North Korea to produce combat drones developed jointly with Russia - NHK

NHK reported this, citing informed sources, Ukrinform reports.

According to the report, numerous sources familiar with Russian-North Korean relations claim that the two countries have reached an agreement under which North Korea will receive technical assistance from Russia to develop several types of combat drones, the mass production of which Pyongyang plans to begin this year.

It is noted that the agreement to develop drones was concluded in exchange for Pyongyang sending its troops to assist Russia in the war against Ukraine.

The report does not specify which models of unmanned systems and their possible technical characteristics are being discussed.

At the same time, it is noted that Moscow is currently refusing to support North Korea in developing nuclear weapons due to concerns that Pyongyang's likely nuclear tests will significantly intensify the DPRK's confrontation with the United States and complicate relations with neighboring countries, in particular with China.

Last November, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the testing of a locally developed kamikaze drone and ordered the start of mass production of this weapons system.