North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently inspected the performance of unmanned armed equipment from the Venus series, emphasizing the importance of military modernization.
According to the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Friday, Kim visited research institutes and companies under the Unmanned Aerial Technology Consortium the previous day to oversee performance tests of unmanned weaponry.
During his visit, Kim evaluated the performance and combat applicability of various unmanned armed systems, including strategic and tactical reconnaissance drones and multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) being developed and produced at these facilities.
The newspaper reported that the tests clearly demonstrated the military strategic value and innovative capabilities of the unmanned strategic reconnaissance drones, as well as the superior combat effectiveness of the Venus series tactical attack drones. Kim was reportedly satisfied with the results.
Kim stated that the increasing role of unmanned systems in modern warfare and their emergence as primary military assets underscore the critical need to advance core technologies in this field. Further, enhancing the artificial intelligence and operational capabilities of unmanned armed systems must be a top priority in the military modernization efforts.
The North Korean leader stressed the importance of swiftly advancing newly introduced AI technologies and boosting drone production capabilities. He also approved and ratified a key planning document detailing organizational and structural measures to further enhance the technical potential of the Unmanned Aerial Technology Consortium. Specific details of the plan were not disclosed.
Key officials from the Workers’ Party Central Committee, including Ri Pyong-chul, the chief advisor on military policy, along with personnel from the defense science research sector, accompanied Kim during this inspection.
Notably, this visit marked the first public mention of the Venus series in relation to North Korea’s unmanned aircraft. Previously, Pyongyang had revealed names for its UAVs in the Morning Star series, such as Morning Star-4 and Morning Star-9.
Kim had also provided on-site guidance at the Unmanned Aerial Technology Consortium in March and observed performance tests of loitering munitions in August and November of last year.
North Korea’s intensified focus on unmanned aerial technology and modern warfare likely stems from the experiences of Russian forces, who have extensively employed drones in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.