Training in Attack Drone Operation
Establishment of Drone Production Facilities
North Korea, which has established a strategic partnership with Russia in exchange for dispatching its troops to the Russia-Ukraine war, has been confirmed to be building facilities for the production of attack drones and acquiring drone technology with Russian assistance.
According to NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet specializing in North Korea, and other sources on July 2 (local time), Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, stated on his Telegram channel that Russian instructors are training North Korean drone pilots in operating attack drones, including first-person view (FPV) drones.
The Wonsan Kalma training ground, which Kovalenko mentioned as the site of drone training, is presumed to be near the Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, where North Korea recently announced the completion of a large seaside resort complex. Kovalenko also claimed that Russia is helping North Korea build facilities to produce the "Geran" drone, the Russian version of the Iranian suicide drone "Shahed."
Previously, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, claimed in an interview with U.S. military media outlet TWZ on June 9 that North Korea and Russia had reached an agreement to establish production capabilities for "Garfiya" and Geran-type drones. TWZ analyzed that, as a result, North Korea is now capable of striking targets anywhere in South Korea and potentially launching large numbers of missiles.
In connection with this, Budanov stated in an interview the previous day that Russia is not providing North Korea with finished drones but is instead supplying equipment and technology to enable local production of drones.
Recently, North Korea has been working to strengthen its drone capabilities, including establishing drone production and test flight facilities at Banghyeon Airfield in North Pyongan Province. It is reported that Russia agreed to provide such drone production equipment to North Korea in return for its troop dispatch to the Ukraine war.
Last month, there were also reports that North Korea was considering sending 25,000 workers to a drone factory in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone to assist with drone production and, in return, learn how to operate the drones.
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