North Korea Advances Military Technology with AI-Equipped Drones

A smartphone smuggled from North Korea has revealed severe censorship and state surveillance enforced by the Kim Jong Un regime, according to an analysis by BBC. The device, acquired via defector networks, operates on a modified version of Android that restricts users to a closed intranet named Kwangmyong, where only state-approved content is available. Internet access is entirely blocked, preventing any connection to the outside world. Notably, the phone automatically alters certain words and phrases associated with South Korea. For instance, typing "South Korea" results in the term “puppet state,” reflecting the official rhetoric of the North Korean government. Furthermore, the device captures screenshots of user activity every five minutes, storing them in a hidden folder accessible to authorities, thereby enabling extensive monitoring. This surveillance exemplifies the broader hostilities between the two Koreas, a conflict rooted in the 1950-1953 Korean War, after which no formal peace treaty was signed. The findings underscore the strict measures implemented by the North Korean regime to control information and reinforce its ideological narratives.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized the importance of military readiness, declaring that the armed forces must be fully prepared for war. His statements followed an observation of special forces exercises, as reported by the state media, with an emphasis on modern warfare capabilities. During the drills, North Korean tanks were seen maneuvering over rugged terrain, while Kim expressed keen interest in the operations, utilizing binoculars to monitor tank fire. The exercises incorporated various training elements, including physical drills and air and sea maneuvers, involving soldiers operating rubber boats and rappelling from helicopters. Kim called for a shift in training methods to improve the military's technical proficiency and combat effectiveness. He stressed the integration of IT systems and scientific approaches into military training. This announcement comes shortly after Kim confirmed that North Korean troops had allied with Russia in the conflict against Ukraine, highlighting a strengthened relationship between the two nations. Experts note that these developments may heighten regional tensions, particularly as they follow a recent ballistic missile exercise conducted by Pyongyang.

North Korea conducted several ballistic missile launches toward its eastern waters on May 8, 2025, prompting heightened military readiness in South Korea and its allies. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles fired from the vicinity of Wonsan were presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles, although the exact distance traveled remains unreported. This marks North Korea's first missile activity since March 10 and the sixth launch event of the year, as tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula. Analysts suggest that the frequency of missile tests aligns with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s intensified efforts to advance the country's nuclear capabilities and its military collaboration with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. South Korean intelligence indicates that approximately 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russia, with nearly 5,000 reported casualties in the Ukraine conflict. This military alignment has alarmed both Washington and Seoul, which are monitoring North Korea's weapon supply activities closely, according to defense officials.