[Edaily Reporter Kim In-kyoung ] Chairman Kim Jong-un visited an unmanned aerial technology exhibition. During the event, North Korea announced that it had conducted live-fire exercises with 600mm multiple rocket launchers and fired missiles using drones.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 30th, the “Unmanned Aerial Technology Development-2026” exhibition took place the previous day, attended by Chairman Kim, senior officials from the military-industrial sector, and the Ministry of National Defense. This news was also reported by Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s domestic media outlet.

The news agency reported that various types of strategic and operational-tactical-level multipurpose UAVs and suicide attack drones were on display at the exhibition, and that demonstrations of firepower were conducted, including firings of tactical suicide attack drones and tactical cruise missiles, airstrikes by multipurpose UAVs, and live-fire exercises by a 600mm multiple rocket launcher battalion.

The agency explained, “Air-to-ground missiles and cruise missiles launched from tactical suicide drone attackers and multipurpose UAVs precisely struck island targets with 100% accuracy,” adding, “Combat firing of the ultra-precise 600mm large-caliber multiple rocket launcher—commonly known as the ‘Sniper’—was publicly demonstrated in front of a crowd for the first time.” It further emphasized, “The combat reliability and effectiveness of all key weapons systems were satisfactorily verified.”

The news agency reported that prior to the weapons test-firing, Chairman Kim toured the exhibition hall and emphasized that aiming for absolute superiority in the unmanned aerial vehicle sector is an indispensable choice, while also outlining measures to expand and strengthen related technologies.

Chairman Kim also stated, “Power is peace, and peace is guaranteed only by power,” adding, “Just as we have established ourselves as a nuclear-armed state and are achieving dramatic advancements in strengthening our conventional forces, the nation’s scientific community must rally and produce miraculous results in the fields of unmanned aerial technology and defense artificial intelligence.”

The news agency did not specify the location of the exhibition or the test-firing site. However, given that the location tracked by our military was Wonsan and based on the exhibition structures, it is presumed to be the Wonsan-Kalma Airfield, where last year’s event marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Air Force was held.

First Lady Ri Sol-ju and Ju-ae, Chairman Kim’s daughter, accompanied him to this exhibition. Also present were Pak Jong-chon, Vice Chairman of the Workers’ Party Central Military Commission; Ri Byong-chol, Senior Advisor to the Party in charge of military supply policy; Kim Song-gi, Minister of National Defense; Party Secretaries Jo Yong-won and Jo Chun-ryong; Kim Jong-sik, First Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party Central Committee; and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.

Jang Yun-jeong, Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, stated, “While North Korea has previously disclosed the status of its UAV development—such as by exhibiting drones as part of comprehensive weapons and equipment exhibitions—this appears to be the first standalone exhibition dedicated to unmanned aerial technology.” “Since Chairman Kim mentioned in his speech the integration of artificial intelligence into unmanned systems and major national measures to expand UAV technology, we will closely monitor developments in this regard in coordination with relevant agencies.”

Professor Im In-chul of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University said, “The reason North Korea has given the 600mm super-large multiple rocket launcher the nickname ‘Sniper’ appears to be a strategic threat against the South, intended to keep the entire South Korean territory within its ‘sniper range,’” and “In the context of the ongoing fortification of the border, the term ‘Sniper’ or ‘sniper assets’ suggests that this includes both the physical fortification of frontline areas and the high-precision strike firepower—such as the 600-mm multiple rocket launchers—that supports it,” he explained.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea from the Wonsan area around 12:30 p.m. the previous day. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles flew approximately 250 km and were estimated to be 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers (KN-25). The 600-mm super-large multiple rocket launcher is a weapon designed to strike South Korea, which North Korea claims can carry the tactical nuclear warhead “Hwasan-31.” North Korea had shown little reaction to the South Korean government’s proposal for inter-Korean military talks—made following the landmine explosion incident to discuss the Military Demarcation Line (MDL)—before carrying out the provocation the previous day.