North Korea announced that it had tested an intermediate‑range strategic missile equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) on Saturday, following a statement from South Korea that a ballistic missile had been launched.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the missile was launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, and traveled more than 700 kilometres. The launch was described as a test of a new missile system.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the missile was capable of changing its flight orbit at low altitude, claiming AI had been incorporated into the system. She added that no other country could access such technology for several years and that the missile’s manoeuvrability made it impossible to avoid. The statement did not explain how AI was used.
The test came a few days after Seoul demanded an apology from Pyongyang over a blast that wounded three South Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone, which North Korea has denied responsibility for. South Korea, the United States and Japan maintained a “robust defence posture” through information sharing after the launch. Analysts suggested that North Korea may be advancing missile technology with Russian support, but a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs said it was too early to confirm the claims. He noted that while AI can aid target information and launch operations, manoeuvrable missiles remain difficult to intercept and do not guarantee perfect accuracy.
