North Korea's Kim Jong Un has ordered the mass production of suicide attack drones, according to state media reports, after observing the test a day prior. 

The drones equipped with explosives and were designed to crash into enemy targets, like the guided missiles were called “suicide drones.”

He supervised the tests of drones designed to hit both land and sea targets, which were developed by North Korea’s unmanned aerial technology complex(UATC).

“He underscored the need to build a serial production system as early as possible and go into full-scale mass production," said the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

These drones were displayed first in August as experts suggested that this step was taken due to North Korea’s alliance with Russia. Both countries have been in a strategic partnership that their leaders signed in June including a mutual defense pact.

The suicide attack drones to be used within different striking ranges are to perform a mission to precisely attack any enemy targets on the ground and in the sea," KCNA said.

Also referred to as loitering munitions, these weapons have been widely used in the war in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Kim said that the drones are an ‘ easy to use…component of striking power,’ citing that they are low cost and have a wide range of applications. 

 

Why?

 

In 2022, North Korea sent drones across the border, while South Korea was unable to retaliate as they were small. It was since that South Korea established a drone operation command to address this threat. 

Early this year, North Korea blamed South Korea for violating its sovereignty by flying drones over its territory to drop propaganda leaflets, this allegation has been continuously denied by the South Korean military. 

North Korea has modified its constitution to designate South Korea as a hostile state, reflecting worsening relations since Kim declared Seoul his country’s “principal enemy” in January.