North Korea Threatens Mass Drone Production, South Korea Steps Up Air Defense Drills

As North Korea intensifies its efforts to develop various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), South Korea’s military, under the direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), will conduct joint air defense training involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The JCS announced Wednesday, “On Thursday afternoon, we will conduct the fourth-quarter joint air defense training, overseen by the JCS, to master response procedures against the intrusion of small North Korean UAVs.”

This training will occur in the eastern and western coastal and rear regions. South Korea’s Ground Operations Command, 2nd Operations Command, and the Navy and Air Force operational commands will participate.

The exercise will simulate scenarios using multiple small UAVs as mock adversaries, focusing on potential provocations from both land and sea.

Previously, North Korea showcased kamikaze and cardboard drones, demonstrating its rapid absorption of modern warfare trends. Drones have emerged as a game-changer in contemporary warfare, especially during the Ukraine conflict.

In this context, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the performance of kamikaze UAVs during a field test on November 14 and reportedly ordered their mass production.

The JCS stated that the training will involve detecting, identifying, and intercepting hostile small UAVs using joint air defense forces on land, sea, and air. However, intercepts will be simulated without live fire.

To minimize noise disturbances and prevent misunderstandings among residents, the JCS explained that it has coordinated with local governments through each military operations command and provided guidance to residents. “The South Korean military is maintaining its vigilance and readiness posture against North Korea while continuing realistic training to prepare for provocations,” the JCS added.

Since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, military aircraft have been subject to heightened sensitivity. Measures are being taken to prevent misunderstandings about the training.

JCS Chairman: “Unwavering Readiness Posture Must Be Maintained”

With legal proceedings underway for military commanders involved in martial law deployments, South Korea’s military authorities focus on maintaining readiness.

Given the possibility of North Korean provocations exploiting South Korea’s political instability, the emphasis remains on the military’s core mission.

JCS Chairman General Kim Myung Soo visited the Army’s 15th Infantry Division Command and a guard post (GP) the previous day to inspect operational readiness and encourage troops.

During his visit to the 15th Division Command, General Kim received a briefing and emphasized, “The enemy is likely to provoke in unexpected ways and at unforeseen times to secure strategic and operational dominance.”

He further urged, “The military must maintain a steadfast state of readiness, which in turn earns the public’s trustpublic’s trust. We must ensure readiness centered around the division commander.”

General Kim also inspected the monitoring and vigilance systems at a partially restored GP, instructing, “As the frontline operational unit facing the enemy, we must maintain unwavering readiness to fulfill our noble mission under any circumstances.”

The visit reinforced the need for the military to maintain a strong will and readiness to respond immediately to any provocations from North Korea.