North Korea Tests “AI-Guided” Cruise Missiles With Alleged 100-KM Range

North Korea has conducted a new series of weapons tests involving tactical ballistic missiles, long-range artillery rockets, and AI-guided precision cruise missiles under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un.

This was reported by the country’s state news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 27.

The tests were aimed at evaluating the combat performance of several weapons systems designed for modern warfare, including what North Korea described as a “special mission warhead” mounted on tactical ballistic missiles, as well as the reliability of long-range multiple-launch rocket systems and the accuracy of AI-assisted tactical cruise missiles.

According to KCNA, the launches also assessed upgraded automated launch systems intended to improve battlefield responsiveness and operational effectiveness.

Kim said the exercises demonstrated that North Korea’s weapons systems had been successfully modernized “to suit the proper conditions of modern warfare so as to enhance their application to combat,” the outlet reported.

The missiles are reportedly equipped with precision navigation and artificial intelligence-based guidance systems capable of striking targets at distances of up to 100 kilometers.

The development comes, as Pyongyang intends to deploy newly developed long-range 155mm self-propelled howitzers in frontline areas by the end of 2026, potentially placing parts of the Seoul metropolitan region within firing range.

According to Korean Central News Agency on May 8, Kim Jong Un personally inspected the artillery systems during a visit to a munitions production facility. The agency said the weapons would be supplied to three artillery battalions as part of a wider modernization effort aimed at enhancing North Korea’s conventional firepower.

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KCNA claimed the new howitzers have a firing range of more than 60 kilometers, which could allow strikes against sections of the greater Seoul area if deployed close to the Demilitarized Zone.

Military analysts note that self-propelled artillery systems combine long-range firepower with mobility, enabling units to relocate rapidly after firing and making them more difficult to detect and target.

Earlier this month, North Korea has amended its constitution to mandate an automatic nuclear response in the event of the death of leader Kim Jong Un. Under the law, if the country’s nuclear command structure comes under enemy attack, a nuclear strike must be launched automatically and without delay.

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