Seoul (AFP) - North Korea announced Saturday that it used artificial intelligence to test a medium-range ballistic missile, hours after Seoul announced that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile.

Published on: 03/10/2026 - 09:44 Last updated: 03/10/2026 - 15:19

The missile test came on Saturday days after the South Korean army demanded that Pyongyang apologize for an explosion it was accused of carrying out, which resulted in the injury of three South Korean soldiers in the demilitarized zone.

Pyongyang denied responsibility for the explosion that occurred last month and described South Korea on Friday as "despicable."

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said that early Saturday, “our army detected the launch of a ballistic missile from the Wonsan region in North Korea towards the East Sea,” using the Korean name for the Sea of ​​Japan.

He added, "South Korea, the United States, and Japan maintain a strong defense posture by closely exchanging information regarding North Korean ballistic missiles," noting that the missile traveled a distance of more than 700 kilometers.

Hours later, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said in a statement that the missile launched on Saturday “is capable of changing its flight path at low altitude, and artificial intelligence technology has been integrated into it,” without giving further details regarding the use of artificial intelligence.

She said this meant "it was not possible to avoid" this missile, adding that leader Kim Jong Un believed that "no country in the world would have access to such technology at least several years ago."

In statements last month, Kim Jong Un stressed the need to raise the "level of artificial intelligence" in the country's offensive and defensive weapons systems.

Kim Yo Jong said that the more North Korea “uses the undulating path pattern,” the more South Korea “is unable to track targets from their first setback points.”

Analysts believe that North Korea may be rapidly developing its missile technologies thanks to Russian military support, in exchange for sending forces to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

"Artificial intelligence is being increasingly integrated into military technology around the world, and ballistic missiles are no exception," Hong Seung Pyo, a researcher at the Seoul-based Korea Military Affairs Institute, told AFP.

He added, "Artificial intelligence can help provide information about targets and launch operations, and the wars in Ukraine and Iran have shown how linking artificial intelligence to drones and missiles can enhance their operational effectiveness."

However, Hong pointed out that it is too early to confirm the accuracy of North Korea's statements regarding the missile capabilities.

He said, "North Korea's missile technology is not as advanced as that of the leading military powers."

He added, "Despite the difficulty of intercepting missiles maneuvering in their final stage, that does not mean that they are capable of hitting their targets with extreme accuracy."

"Despicable"

Seoul and the United Nations have concluded that the explosion that occurred last month inside the demilitarized zone was caused by North Korean mines planted on the southern side of the border. This led to the amputation of one of the soldiers' legs.

The North Korean army planted mines and built anti-tank barriers along the border as part of efforts aimed at closing it permanently, after Kim Jong Un considered South Korea to be his country's "main enemy" in 2024.

According to South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, it is believed that the mines that caused the explosion, which injured three soldiers, were planted as part of border fortification work in Pyongyang.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, known for his peaceful stances, urged Pyongyang on Thursday to return to dialogue, despite his army demanding that North Korea apologize the previous day.

The North Korean leader's sister responded, describing Seoul on Friday as "extremely despicable" and again denying that Pyongyang was behind the explosion. She mocked Lee's call for dialogue, considering it "the height of the farce that everyone must watch," stressing that the army's demand for her country to apologize is "absolutely ridiculous."

Kim warned that Pyongyang was "prepared for anything" that Seoul might do in the wake of the mine explosion, in statements that came after North Korea launched a ballistic missile the next morning.

Analysts said that the launch of the latest ballistic missile would be considered a show of force in response to the diplomatic efforts made by the South Korean government, and to show an actual refusal to engage in dialogue.

“Seoul called for an easing of tensions, but Pyongyang responded by escalating them,” Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP.

He considered that "the message is that North Korea seeks... confrontation in response to good faith."

© 2026 AFP

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.