Self-destructive drone inspection in 3 months...For South Korea? For export?

North Korea's "Kim Jong-un inspects the performance test of self-destructive attack drone"
revisits after three months..."One-line deployment" → "volume production"
additional identification of 'cylindrical' drones following stingray and cross-shaped
The subject of the performance test was also changed to 'Unmanned Aviation Technology Association'

[Anchor]
North Korean State Councilor Kim Jong-un has encouraged him to revisit the site of a self-destructive drone performance test for the first time in three months and establish a mass production system.

It seems that he has gone beyond the R&D stage and has entered the mass production stage, but he has specifically pointed out what his intentions are.

I'm reporter Lee Jong Won.

[Reporter]
A drone runs over a model of a tram, over a passenger car, and it explodes with flames and breaks it apart.

North Korean media released the photo on the 14th, saying that Kim Jong-un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission, visited the performance test site of a self-destructive attack drone.

I found it again in three months following August, but at the time, I urged them to deploy it to the front line as soon as possible and to establish a mass production system this time.

[Chosun Central TV: (Chairman Kim Jong-un) emphasized the establishment of a serial production system and the full-scale mass production.]

Although the drone shape was mosaic-processed, a shorter cylindrical drone was additionally identified in addition to the previously disclosed stingray and cross-shaped wings.

In addition, the main body of the performance test, which was previously a drone research institute at the National Defense Research Institute, has been changed to "Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Association Laboratories and Enterprises."

[Kim In-ae / Deputy Spokesperson for Unification Ministry: It is the first time that the Association of Unmanned Aeronautical Technology, which appeared in North Korean media, has been identified in official reports. We will keep a close eye on the situation with related agencies.]

It seems to be intended to show off that it has passed the R&D stage and has entered the mass production stage, which experts analyze as a multi-purpose move.

First of all, the purpose of warning messages against South Korea is to offset the defense gap caused by the dispatch of Russian troops and respond to the infiltration of Pyongyang drones.

In particular, the disclosure of the car hitting the target seems to reveal the possibility of using it to assassinate South Korean factors.

Of course, there is an analysis that it is an export move aimed at earning foreign currency.

[Cho Han-beom / Senior Researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification: This is a warning that drones can be infiltrated again over Seoul. And there's marketing for the ability to supply drones to Russia, there's such a multi-purpose, you can see it like this.]

The on-site inspection was Kim's first public move since the U.S. presidential election, but there was no message specifically aimed directly at the U.S.

First of all, it is expected that Trump, who has emphasized "bromance," will wait for the message to North Korea and then weigh whether and when to make a high-intensity provocation.

I'm YTN's Lee Jong Won.

Reporter for filming
: Ko Min-cheol
Edit
video: Ma Young-hoo