North Korea carried out a test involving attack drones and missiles, and Kim Jong-un used the occasion to call for the country to secure what De Telegraaf, citing his remarks, described as "absolute superiority" in the development of AI drones. The demonstration took place on Friday, 30 October 2026, according to reporting from De Telegraaf and other Dutch outlets. Kim's comments were delivered during the weapons exercise itself, the reports say.
According to HLN, the launch included ballistic missiles fired toward the Sea of Japan. AD.nl and the Nederlands Dagblad both report that Kim used the event to state his aim of achieving "absolute military predominance." The same outlets describe the exercise as combining drone and missile tests in a single display.
The test comes amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. NOS reports that friction between the two Koreas is increasing and that a growing number of countries are becoming involved in the standoff. De Telegraaf frames Kim's remarks on AI drones as firm language delivered at a weapons demonstration, without offering further detail on the systems shown.
The reporting available does not specify how many drones or missiles were used, what types were involved, or how far the missiles travelled. It also does not indicate whether the AI drone programme has produced operational systems or remains at a development stage.
What to watch next: whether North Korea releases further detail on the drone systems tested, and how South Korea and its allies respond to the latest launches.