Drills included tests of a new long-range precision glide bomb, precision bombing runs on naval targets, drone interception using helicopters, and demonstrations of strategic and multipurpose drones.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for stronger and constant war preparedness across the military after overseeing extensive air combat and anti-air defence drills this week, state media reported on Saturday.
The exercises were conducted by a flight group under the Guards 1st Air Division of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), with Kim personally supervising operations on Thursday. The drills aimed to bolster the country’s air defences and sharpen the readiness of units tasked with repelling enemy cruise missiles and suicide drones, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
“All military units must bring about a radical turn in their preparations for war, maintaining a constant war posture,” Kim was quoted as saying during the inspection.
KCNA reported that the comprehensive drills included tests of a new long-range precision glide bomb, precision bombing runs on naval targets, drone interception using helicopters, and demonstrations of strategic and multipurpose drones. The exercises also focused on improving capabilities in radar tracking, electronic warfare, and anti-drone operations.
Kim reportedly praised the drills as “very useful” for modern combat training and instructed military leaders to further develop air weapons systems, air defence technologies, integrated detection systems, and drone countermeasures.
Photographs released by state media showed the deployment of aircraft including the MiG-29 and Su-25, as well as what appeared to be a new air-to-air missile launched from the MiG-29. Analysts believe it may be a domestically modified version of Russia’s R-27 missile.
“This missile is presumed to be a localised variant of Russia’s R-27, suggesting possible technological collaboration between North Korea and Moscow,” said Hong Min, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Additional images released by KCNA depicted North Korean drones resembling the US Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, further highlighting Pyongyang’s ambition to expand its unmanned aerial capabilities.
The military drills come amid Kim’s ongoing campaign to modernise North Korea’s conventional weapons. In recent weeks, he has made a series of high-profile visits to military units and munitions production facilities, often accompanied by senior officials such as Ri Pyong-chol, general adviser for the Workers’ Party’s munitions policy, and Kim Yong-hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences.
These developments add to growing regional concerns over Pyongyang’s military build-up, as tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula amid stalled diplomatic talks and joint US-South Korea exercises.
