PYONGYANG, October 30. /TASS/. The development of unmanned aerial vehicles and the incorporation of artificial intelligence into weapons systems will be key priorities for the modernization of the North Korean military, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said at the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Development 2026 exhibition, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

"The drive for absolute superiority in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles is an inevitable choice determined by the changing nature of modern warfare," Kim Jong Un stressed. According to the agency, he outlined the Korean Workers’ Party’s defense strategy, which envisages the accelerated development of unmanned aviation, and announced key state initiatives to carry it out.

The DPRK leader called for top priority to be placed on improving key technologies, incorporating artificial intelligence into unmanned weapon systems, and broadening their combat capabilities. He noted that unmanned technology is becoming one of the main tools of military operations, and its range of uses is constantly expanding.

Kim Jong Un urged the country’s scientific community to deliver breakthrough results in the fields of unmanned aviation and military artificial intelligence. He emphasized that progress in these areas must match North Korea’s successes in developing its nuclear capabilities and modernizing its conventional armed forces.

The exhibition was held on October 29. It showcased multipurpose drones for strategic and operational-tactical missions, kamikaze strike drones, and other combat systems. Kim Jong Un visited the exhibition and voiced satisfaction with the achievements of the defense industry.