North Korea's Kim calls for 'destructive' military posture as South vows
to boost drones
[June 26, 2026]
By HYUNG-JIN KIM and KIM TONG-HYUNG
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed major
weapons tests and called for the military’s “deadly and destructive
offensive posture” to be bolstered, state media reported Friday, as
South Korea announced it would drastically boost its drone warfare
capabilities.
The development comes as tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula,
with Kim pushing to strengthen both nuclear and conventional military
capabilities while refusing to return to talks with South Korea and the
United States.
The tests watched by Kim on Thursday were meant to evaluate the power of
a “special mission" warhead for a tactical ballistic missile, an
upgraded multiple rocket launch system and the hit accuracy of shells
with an extended firing range of a self-propelled gun-howitzer, the
official Korean Central News Agency said.
KCNA cited Kim as saying results of the tests proved the technological
progress achieved in a push to bring about a change in the fire posture
on southern border areas, implying the tested weapons systems target
sites in South Korea including U.S. military bases there.
Kim said North Korea's self-defense policy includes an objective to
strengthen "the deadly and destructive offensive posture to make no
enemy dare to confront,” KCNA said. “To make the enemies feel constant
uneasiness and fear is just an important aspect of the exercise of war
deterrent.”
KCNA said the special mission warhead tested is aimed at “inflicting
fatal damage on major targets including airfields, ports and power
facilities of the enemy.”
Later Friday, South Korea's Defense Ministry announced plans to beef up
its drone forces, citing growing military threats by North Korea which
allegedly received technology assistance from Russia. The plans include
developing long-range exploding drones, acquiring more than 20,000
low-cost reconnaissance and attack drones and training the country's
entire 500,000 troops as “drone warriors.”
“North Korea is also currently receiving technology transfers from
Russia, so there’s an urgent need for us to respond proactively to the
changing nature of warfare and the evolving operational environment,”
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told reporters.
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In this photo provided Friday, June 26, 2026, by the North Korean
government, its leader Kim Jong Un, center right, visits the site of
weapon tests at an undisclosed location, North Korea, Thursday, June
25, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the
event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean
government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be
independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News
Service via AP)
Ahn said the plans reflect how low-cost loitering munitions like
drones are becoming crucial in modern warfare, including in Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine that also involved thousands of North Korean
troops fighting alongside Russian troops. Ahn said the South Korean
military plans to have 500,000 “drone warriors” across the army,
navy, air force and marines who operate drones “easily like personal
firearms.”
North Korea has been focusing on enlarging its nuclear and missile
arsenals since Kim's high-stakes diplomacy with U.S. President
Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. He's later underscored the need to
build sophisticated conventional weapons as well.
On Tuesday, North Korea commissioned the 5,000-ton destroyer that
Kim touted as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear
capabilities. The Choe Hyon is North Korea’s most advanced warship.
In response to Trump's repeated outreach to restart diplomacy, Kim
has suggested that talks can resume if the U.S. drops its demand for
denuclearization of North Korea as a precondition of diplomacy. Kim
has taken a harsher posture on South Korea, calling it his country's
“principal enemy” and building more military structures along the
rivals' heavily fortified border.
Kim has boosted his diplomatic footprint in past years by expanding
ties with Russia with his support of its war against Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea
for the first time in seven years for a meeting with Kim.
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