World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
North Korea showcases drones, cruise missiles and rocket launchers
North Korea staged a weapons demonstration alongside an exhibition on unmanned aircraft technology, state media said.
Leader Kim Jong Un called for faster development of military drones and artificial intelligence, saying the country should seek superiority in drone technology.
The demonstration featured attack drones, cruise missiles and a 600-mm multiple rocket launcher, which state media said was publicly fired for the first time.
South Korea detected around 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea on the same day.
North Korea’s claims about the weapons’ performance, including that they hit an island target accurately, came from its state media.
Kim urged North Korea to expand its unmanned military capabilities, but the reports did not say what specific steps would follow.
North Korea staged a weapons demonstration featuring attack drones, cruise missiles and a 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher, state media reported.
Leader Kim Jong Un attended an exhibition on unmanned aerial technology and called for faster development of drones and military artificial intelligence.
South Korea said it detected around 10 projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea.
North Korea said weapons used in the demonstration struck an island target with 100 percent accuracy.
The 600-millimeter launcher, known as the Sniper, was publicly demonstrated in a firing exercise for the first time, according to state media.
- Who
- North Korea staged the demonstration, and leader Kim Jong Un attended the exhibition.
- What
- A weapons demonstration featured attack drones, cruise missiles and a 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher.
- When
- Thursday, according to North Korean state media reports published Friday, October 30.
- Where
- The exhibition and demonstration location was not stated. South Korea said the projectiles were launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea.
- Why
- Kim called for expanding North Korea’s unmanned aerial capabilities and developing drone technology and military artificial intelligence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
State media said Kim ordered mass production of suicide attack drones.
State media said Kim oversaw tests of AI-equipped drones.
Kim called artificial intelligence a top priority in modernising weapons, according to state media.
North Korea conducted its previous ballistic missile launch, according to Yonhap.
North Korea held the exhibition and weapons demonstration, while South Korea detected around 10 projectiles launched from the Wonsan area.
- Missiles detected
- Around 10 projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles
- Launcher
- 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher known as the Sniper
- Target claim
- KCNA said weapons struck an island target with 100 percent accuracy
- Ballistic missile launches
- Thursday’s launches were North Korea’s 17th of the year, according to Yonhap
- Previous launch
- October 12, 2026
6 sources
북한, 자폭 드론으로 韓 GP·美 전차 모형 타격… 김정은 “무인기 분야서 절대 우세”
North Korea tests attack drones as Kim calls for 'absolute superiority'
Kim Jong Un defende domínio na área de drones enquanto Coreia do Norte lança mísseis e foguetes
北, 초정밀 600㎜ 방사포 사격…김정은 “힘이 곧 평화”
N. Korea reports weapons demonstration featuring cruise missiles, rocket launchers, drones
Kim Jong Un urges drone dominance as North Korea fires missiles, rockets
What people are saying
absolute superiority
an indispensable option