PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea has showcased more than 30 types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at its first exhibition dedicated exclusively to drone technology, with leader Kim Jong Un calling for “absolute superiority” in unmanned systems and the integration of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) into weapons development.
The exhibition, titled “Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Development-2026,” was held in Pyongyang on October 29. Kim attended the event alongside his wife, Ri Sol-ju, his daughter Kim Ju-ae, and senior military and defence industry officials.
According to North Korean state media, Kim described drone superiority as an “indispensable option” given the changing nature of modern warfare. He called for accelerated development of unmanned aircraft and the use of advanced AI to perform decision-making tasks previously handled by human operators.
More Than 30 Unmanned Systems on Display
The exhibition featured more than 30 types of unmanned systems, including strategic and tactical multipurpose UAVs, loitering munitions, suicide attack drones and first-person-view (FPV) quadcopters.
One of the newly displayed systems was a tailless flying-wing aircraft. Analysts noted its delta-shaped configuration and upper air intake, which resemble features seen on stealth-oriented unmanned aircraft such as the US Northrop Grumman X-47B and European Dassault nEUROn.
State media footage also showed armed multipurpose UAVs launching air-to-ground missiles. Some of the displayed loitering munitions appeared visually similar to Russia’s Lancet drones.
The exhibition did not provide detailed technical specifications, including range, payload capacity or production status, for the newly displayed aircraft.
Live-Fire Weapons Demonstration
A weapons demonstration accompanied the exhibition, involving tactical suicide attack drones, cruise missiles, multipurpose UAVs and a battalion of 600 mm multiple rocket launchers.
The 600 mm rocket launcher system, referred to as “Sniper” in the provided information, was reportedly shown in public combat firing for the first time.
North Korean state media claimed that suicide drones, air-to-ground missiles launched from multipurpose UAVs and cruise missiles struck their designated island targets with 100 percent accuracy. These claims have not been independently verified.
Footage reviewed by open-source analysts indicated that the practice targets were designed to resemble South Korean Army guard posts, K9 self-propelled howitzers and US Army M1 Abrams tanks.
On the same day, South Korea’s military reported detecting approximately 10 projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast. It was not immediately clear whether the launches were directly linked to the exhibition’s weapons demonstration.
North Korea Expands Drone Development
The exhibition marks another step in North Korea’s efforts to expand its unmanned aviation capabilities.
In November 2024, Kim Jong Un ordered the mass production of suicide attack drones. In March 2025, North Korean state media reported that Kim had overseen tests of AI-equipped attack drones.
The latest exhibition highlighted Pyongyang’s stated focus on combining unmanned aircraft, AI-based guidance systems and different types of weapons to develop a broader unmanned combat capability.
Kim also urged scientists and engineers to achieve further progress in unmanned aeronautical technology and defence-related artificial intelligence.
The exhibition reflects North Korea’s continued emphasis on drone development and AI integration as part of its military modernisation programme.
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