North Korea displays drones, missiles as Kim urges AI weapons push

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military detected "around a dozen short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area of North Korea towards the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan.

News coverage showing file footage of a North Korean missile launch is seen on a screen at Seoul Station in Seoul on Oct 12, 2026. (Photo: AFP/Philip Fong)

SEOUL: North Korea has test-fired attack drones, missiles and a multiple rocket launcher at a weapons demonstration, state media reported on Friday (Oct 30), as leader Kim Jong Un called for faster development of drone and AI technology for military use.

The event came a day after Seoul said Pyongyang had fired “around a dozen” short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, though it was not immediately clear whether the launches were linked to the demonstration.

At the event, Kim stressed 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," according to KCNA.

He added: "Strength precisely means peace and peace is guaranteed only by strength."

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The demonstration featured suicide attack drones, multipurpose drones firing air-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles and 600mm multiple rocket launchers. KCNA said the drones and cruise missiles hit an island target with 100 per cent accuracy.

The event follows a slew of recent weapons tests by Pyongyang, including a new precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, both of which were said to employ AI technology.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military detected "around a dozen short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area of North Korea towards the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan.

The missiles flew about 250km, and "South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis of their exact specifications", Seoul's military said, adding it had stepped up surveillance of possible additional launches.

Seoul's National Security Office, meanwhile, said the launches violated UN Security Council resolutions, labelling them "serious acts that do nothing to help manage the current situation".

Thursday's missile flurry comes against the backdrop of growing tensions over a landmine explosion along the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas that saw three South Korean soldiers wounded.