North Korea has claimed the successful test-firing of a medium-range tactical missile equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Pyongyang claims the missile is capable of low-altitude flight and can alter its trajectory while in the air.
The missile was launched on Saturday. Hours earlier, the South Korean military had reported that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile.
According to South Korean data, the missile traveled a distance of more than 700 kilometers.
Three South Korean soldiers were recently injured in an explosion within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the border between the two nations. Seoul had blamed Pyongyang for the incident and demanded an apology. This latest missile launch occurred just days later.
However, North Korea has denied responsibility for last month’s explosion. On Friday, Pyongyang also labeled South Korea “reprehensible.” These developments have dealt a blow to the prospect of resuming dialogue between the civilian leaderships of the two countries.
The South Korean military stated that it is closely sharing information regarding the North Korean missile with the United States and Japan. All three nations are maintaining robust defense postures amidst the situation.
Hours after South Korea released this information, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, provided details about the missile. She stated that the missile launched in the morning was a “medium-range tactical missile.”
Kim Yo-jong did not provide a detailed explanation regarding how AI was utilized in the missile. However, she claimed that the missile incorporates AI technology, enabling it to change its trajectory while flying at low altitudes.
Kim Yo-jong asserted that, due to this capability, there is “no way to escape” an attack by this missile. According to her, Kim Jong-un believes that no other country in the world will be able to access this technology for at least the next few years.
Last month, Kim Jong-un spoke of the need to enhance the “level of artificial intelligence” in North Korea’s weapons systems. Shortly thereafter, Kim Yo-jong revealed details about the capabilities of this new missile.
Kim Yo-jong further claimed that when North Korea employed a “wave-like, zigzagging flight path mode” for the missile, South Korea was unable to continue tracking it after detecting the initial change in its trajectory.
Analysts believe that North Korea is receiving military assistance from Moscow in exchange for supporting Russia in the Ukraine war. This has enabled the country to rapidly advance its missile technology.
Hong Sung-pyo, a senior researcher at the Seoul-based Korea Institute for Military Affairs, told AFP that the use of AI in military technology is growing globally, and ballistic missiles are no exception.
According to him, AI can assist in analyzing target data and the missile launch process. Conflicts involving Ukraine and Iran have demonstrated that integrating AI into drones and missiles can enhance their effectiveness.
However, Hong Sung-pyo believes it is not yet possible to confirm the veracity of the capabilities claimed by North Korea.
He noted that North Korea’s missile technology is not yet as advanced as that of the world’s leading military powers. While missiles capable of altering their trajectory as they approach a target are difficult to intercept, this does not necessarily mean they are capable of striking targets with pinpoint accuracy.
