North Korea is conducting drone pilot training near the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone and in Pyongyang with support from Russia, according to NK News, a media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs. It appears Pyongyang is receiving instruction on drone tactics from Moscow, which has proven highly effective in the Ukraine conflict.
On Wednesday, NK News reported that North Korean experts are undergoing training in unmanned aerial vehicle operations, including first-person view (FPV) attack drones, under Russian guidance. This information was attributed to Andriy Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, who shared the details via Telegram.
Kovalenko indicated that the training is taking place at an airfield in the Wonsan Kalma area, approximately 20 km (about 12 miles) from the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone Resort.
The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone officially opened on Tuesday and is scheduled to welcome Russian tourists beginning July 7.
According to NK News, the Pyongyang area boasts infrastructure suitable for operating large reconnaissance and kamikaze-type unmanned aerial vehicles (FPV drones). This includes the Pyongyang Aviation Club, adjacent to a military parade training ground, the Panghyon and Suncheon Air Bases, and the Kangdong training facility, located east of Pyongyang.
In related developments, North Korea is reportedly constructing two aircraft-related factories near the Panghyon base. This location has previously hosted several test flights of the Venus, a North Korean unmanned aerial vehicle modeled after the U.S. Global Hawk reconnaissance drone and MQ-9 Reaper attack drone.