North Korea announces use of AI in ballistic missile test

North Korea announced on Saturday that it had used artificial intelligence in a test of a medium-range ballistic missile, hours after Seoul declared that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile.

The missile test came days after the South Korean military demanded an apology from Pyongyang for an explosion that was blamed on the North and resulted in injuries to three South Korean soldiers in the demilitarized zone.

Pyongyang denied responsibility for the explosion that occurred last month and described South Korea on Friday as “despicable.”

Chief of Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said that early on Saturday, “our military detected the launch of a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area in North Korea toward the East Sea,” using the Korean name for the Sea of Japan.

He added that “South Korea, the United States, and Japan maintain a strong defensive posture through close information sharing regarding North Korean ballistic missiles,” noting that the missile traveled more than 700 kilometers.

Hours later, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said in a statement that the missile launched on Saturday “is capable of changing its flight path at low altitudes, and artificial intelligence technology has been integrated into it,” without providing further details on the use of AI.

She said this meant that the missile was “unavoidable,” adding that Leader Kim Jong Un had believed that “no country in the world could access such technology at least several years ago.”

Kim Jong Un had previously emphasized in remarks last month the need to raise the “level of artificial intelligence” in the country’s offensive and defensive weapon systems.

Analysts believe that North Korea may be rapidly developing its missile technologies thanks to Russian military support, in exchange for sending troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Hong Seong-byu, a researcher at Seoul-based Institute for Military Studies, told AFP that “artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into military technology worldwide, and ballistic missiles are no exception.”

He added, “AI can help provide target information and assist in launch operations, as demonstrated by the wars in Ukraine and Iran, where linking AI with drones and missiles has enhanced their operational effectiveness.”

However, Hong noted that it was too early to confirm the accuracy of North Korea’s claims regarding the missile’s capabilities.

He said that “North Korea’s missile technology is not as advanced as that of leading military powers.”

He added, “While it is difficult to intercept missiles that maneuver in their terminal phase, this does not mean they are capable of hitting their targets with extreme precision.”

Seoul and the United Nations concluded that the explosion last month inside the demilitarized zone was caused by North Korean mines planted on the southern side of the border. The incident resulted in the amputation of one soldier’s leg.

The North Korean military planted mines and built anti-tank barriers along the border as part of efforts to permanently close it, following Kim Jong Un’s designation of South Korea as the “principal enemy” of the country in 2024.

According to South Korean Defense Minister Kang Sung-chul, the mines that caused the explosion injuring three soldiers are believed to have been planted as part of border fortification efforts by Pyongyang.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, known for his peaceful stance, urged Pyongyang on Thursday to return to dialogue, despite his military’s demand for an apology from North Korea the previous day.

The sister of the North Korean leader responded on Friday, describing Seoul as “extremely despicable” and once again denying that Pyongyang was behind the explosion. She mocked Lee’s call for dialogue, calling it “the pinnacle of farce that everyone should watch,” and insisted that the military’s demand for an apology was “absurd.”

Kim warned that Pyongyang was “ready for anything” Seoul might do in the wake of the mine explosion, in remarks that came after North Korea launched a ballistic missile the following morning.

Analysts said the latest ballistic missile launch would be seen as a show of force in response to diplomatic efforts by the South Korean government, and to demonstrate a genuine refusal to engage in dialogue.

Yang Moo-jin, former president of the Seoul Institute for North Korean Studies, told AFP, “Seoul called for de-escalation, but Pyongyang responded by escalating tensions.”