North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Displays New Aircraft Resembling US Military Drones

On Thursday night, Kim Jong Un and delegations from Russia and China attended a North Korean military parade showcasing the country's latest drone technologyin Pyongyang.

What Happened: During the parade, North Korea showcased two new aircraft nearly identical to U.S. military drones: the MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

Images and footage from the military parade revealed a convoy of trucks transporting drones that bore a striking resemblance to the Reaper, a potent and heavily armed combat drone capable of carrying up to eight AGM-114 Hellfire missiles as well as performing crucial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, Insider reported.

Last week, in a tweet, North Korea's N.K. News released a video showcasing the Reaper-lookalike drone firing an unspecified missile during its flight. 

The footage also showed another drone that strongly resembled the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unarmed system renowned for its larger size, high altitude capabilities, and long-endurance ISR missions.  

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The state-run media outlet KCNA labeled the systems as a "strategic reconnaissance drone" and a "multi-purpose attack drone," proudly highlighting them as "newly developed and produced" additions to the country's air force.

However, Insider noted that details surrounding North Korea's two new drones are scarce and that it is unclear how closely their operations resemble those of their apparent American counterparts. 

Why It Matters: During the event, North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam criticized recent military activities by the U.S. and South Korea in his speech. Kim's minister also pledged that North Korea will "never tolerate any military acts of encroaching upon the sovereignty and security of the state."

Amid North Korea's continuous efforts to bolster its military capabilities, the parade and display of new drone technology have drawn attention. The parade follows a string of recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea, which occurred shortly after a U.S. missile submarine had docked at a South Korean port for the first time in four decades.

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