Kim Jong Un pushes rapid drone expansion after missile launches

State media said Kim Jong Un visited a drone exhibition and ordered accelerated development of unmanned weapons after North Korea fired about a dozen short‑range missiles.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 30 Oct 2026 02:54:26 GMT

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a drone exhibition on Thursday and called for rapid expansion of unmanned aeronautical technology, state media reported on Friday, a day after Seoul said Pyongyang launched roughly a dozen short‑range ballistic missiles toward the sea.

What happened

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim toured an exhibition displaying attack drones, multipurpose drones capable of firing air‑to‑surface missiles, cruise missiles and 600 mm multiple‑rocket launchers. KCNA said the demonstration featured suicide attack drones, multipurpose drones firing air‑to‑surface missiles, cruise missiles and 600 mm multiple rocket launchers. After the tour, the regime conducted test‑launches of various drones, missiles and rockets from the ultra‑precision launchers. South Korea’s military said the missiles were fired on Friday, marking the first ballistic launches in 17 days.

What the reports add

Independent.co.uk reported that KCNA said Kim emphasized the need to seize “the absolute superiority in the drone technology” and announced unspecified steps to “rapidly expand and strengthen the unmanned aeronautical technology.”
France24 added that KCNA claimed the drones and cruise missiles hit an island target with 100 % accuracy and that the demonstration followed recent tests of a precision‑guided torpedo (Zam‑2.0) and an intermediate‑range hypersonic missile, both said to employ AI technology.
Both outlets noted that South Korea’s spy agency identified the teenage girl seen with Kim as likely his heir; Independent described her as about 13 years old.
KCNA photos showed Kim watching the soaring weapons and clenching his fist while his teenage daughter clapped beside him.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said “around a dozen short‑range ballistic missiles” were fired from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, traveling about 250 km, and that the United States was conducting a detailed analysis of their specifications.
The event follows a series of recent tests: a hypersonic missile test on 22 September (see Felo News coverage), an AI‑guided torpedo test on 17 October, and multiple ballistic missile launches on 11 October.
Kim Yo‑Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, had earlier said North Korea would place loudspeakers on standby along the border “within days” and had put unspecified “new counter means” on alert.

What was said

“The aim to seize the absolute superiority in the drone technology is an indispensable option in the light of the ever‑changing patterns of modern warfare,”

KCNA quoted Kim as saying this, and both Independent.co.uk and France24 reproduced the wording.

“Strength precisely means peace and peace is guaranteed only by strength.”

The statement also appeared in the France24 report.

How it came about

The drone exhibition and weapons demonstration follow a series of recent North Korean tests. On 22 September, Felo News covered a hypersonic missile test (north-korea-hypersonic-missile-test), and on 12 October the outlet reported multiple ballistic missile launches (north-korea-missile-launch-1). Earlier in October, an AI‑guided torpedo test was reported (north-korea-ai-torpedo-test). The latest drone showcase therefore continues a pattern of accelerating weapons development amid heightened inter‑Korean tensions, including recent disputes over land‑mine explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers and diplomatic accusations over border provocations.

Key facts

Kim Jong Un visited a drone exhibition and called for rapid expansion of drone technology (independent.co.uk)
North Korea test‑launched drones, missiles and 600 mm multiple‑rocket launchers after the exhibition (independent.co.uk)
South Korea said North Korea fired about a dozen short‑range ballistic missiles the day before (france24.com)

Where accounts differ

Number of short‑range ballistic missiles launched: about 10 short‑range ballistic missiles (independent.co.uk); around a dozen short‑range ballistic missiles (france24.com)