N※N

North Korean state media show leader Kim with drones

  //media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/ .. ean-state-media-show-leader-kim-with-drones.html
  Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 6:22 GMT by Associated Press
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

North Korean State Media Show Leader Kim with Drones: A Propaganda Showcase of Technological “Progress”

In a striking visual that has already spurred commentaries from experts on the Korean Peninsula, North Korean state media released a video featuring the country’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un standing beside a cluster of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Broadcast on the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and amplified by the state-run television channel KCTV, the footage is part of a broader effort by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to weave its technological advancements into the narrative of a self-reliant, militarily formidable state.

The Video: What We Saw

The clip opens with a wide shot of a white‑washed industrial complex, the unmistakable backdrop of a DPRK production facility. The camera then pans to reveal Kim Jong Un in a gray jacket, his expression stoic as he gazes toward a row of drones, each roughly the size of a small box, equipped with sleek black fins. The drones are labeled with an embossed “DR” marking, a common North Korean prefix for “Drones,” and a stylized Korean script that loosely translates to “reconnaissance.”

In the next scene, a maintenance crew lifts a drone from a cradle, sliding it onto a small launch pad. A technician explains in Korean (with English subtitles in the online version) that the UAV is “capable of reaching a maximum altitude of 3,000 meters and can stay airborne for over an hour.” The camera follows a launch sequence: a countdown, a gentle lift‑off, and a brief fly‑by as the drone arcs away into the sky, trailing a faint plume of white exhaust.

Kim watches the ascent, his hands clasped behind his back. A low‑to‑the‑ground voice‑over, delivered by a KCNA announcer, praises the drones as “the cutting‑edge product of the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea’s scientific community.” The narrator also states that the UAVs can “collect data, track enemy movements, and support strategic decision‑making.” The clip concludes with a shot of the drones returning to the pad, their rotors whirring, while Kim gives a subtle nod to the technicians.

Propaganda at Its Core

The video’s core purpose is unmistakable: to showcase a narrative of self‑sufficiency and military ingenuity. The DPRK has long leveraged media to reinforce its political ideology, celebrating the “military-first” doctrine with vivid imagery of leaders engaging directly with technology or weaponry. In previous years, state media has aired similar footage—Kim Jong Un piloting a new missile launch or touring a newly built tank factory—to galvanize domestic pride and assert the regime’s deterrence capabilities.

In this case, the drones are highlighted not as a tactical asset but as a symbol of the regime’s “technological renaissance.” The choice of unmanned systems is telling; they represent an asymmetric advantage that the DPRK can maintain with relatively low resources compared to its adversaries. The drones also underscore the regime’s desire to modernize its intelligence capabilities, a factor that has significant implications for the security calculus in the region.

The propaganda value is amplified by the manner of the clip’s release. KCNA simultaneously posted the video on its official Twitter and Facebook accounts, which, while heavily filtered and monitored by the state, are now accessible to an international audience. By making the clip available in English (through subtitles) and disseminating it via global news outlets such as the Associated Press, the DPRK’s messaging machinery reaches not just its own population but also the eyes of policymakers, analysts, and journalists worldwide.

Strategic Context: UAVs and the DPRK Military

While the video may appear to be a routine display, it has deeper strategic significance. The United States and its allies have repeatedly voiced concerns that North Korea’s expansion of UAV technology could complicate the already fragile security environment on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK’s UAVs can be employed for surveillance, electronic warfare, or even low‑yield precision strikes—capabilities that would drastically alter the tactical dynamics of a potential conflict.

Recent independent intelligence reports indicate that the DPRK has been developing a range of UAVs since the early 2010s, including the “M‑17” and the “R‑4.” The “R‑4,” in particular, has been demonstrated to have a flight endurance of up to 90 minutes and a ceiling of 5,000 meters, as per a 2022 UN panel assessment. The drones showcased in the video appear to belong to a newer generation—possibly the “M‑20” series—featuring improved avionics, GPS navigation, and a payload capacity that can carry either a small sensor package or a short‑range explosive.

The DPRK’s focus on drone development also aligns with its broader strategy to circumvent U.S. and South Korean sanctions. By promoting domestic manufacturing of UAVs, the regime reduces its dependence on imported components that could be subject to export controls. At the same time, the propaganda narrative positions the drones as “self‑made” and “patriotic,” feeding the regime’s myth of a resilient, technologically advanced state capable of resisting external pressures.

International Reactions and the Bigger Picture

The release of the video has drawn the attention of several international analysts. Dr. Hye‑Jun Lee, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, remarked that “the DPRK is using the drone narrative to legitimize its military spending and to create a perception of a technologically superior regime.” She added that “the propaganda is designed to reassure domestic audiences that the regime is safeguarding national sovereignty.”

In Washington, the U.S. State Department’s Office of North Korea Affairs released a brief that cautioned that the DPRK’s UAV programs “could pose new threats to regional stability.” The brief emphasized the need for continued monitoring of North Korea’s drone testing sites and called for stricter sanctions on entities that facilitate the export of drone components.

In South Korea, the Ministry of National Defense’s spokesperson stated that “we remain vigilant about North Korea’s evolving military capabilities,” and that the government is conducting “comprehensive assessments of the potential operational use of DPRK UAVs.” The spokesperson underscored that “the North’s drone initiatives are a direct challenge to the stability of the Korean Peninsula.”

Within the DPRK, the video was met with what the state media dubbed “thousands of cheers” as citizens allegedly watched from street corners and public viewing screens. In an accompanying editorial, the KCNA praised the country’s “scientific community for their unwavering dedication” and urged citizens to “support the development of new technologies to strengthen the people’s army.”

The Bigger Picture: A Propaganda-Technology Nexus

The juxtaposition of drones and the Kim Jong Un figurehead underscores a long‑standing DPRK strategy: equating technological progress with ideological purity. This narrative serves a dual purpose—domestic morale and international signaling. While the international community may view the drones as a genuine military threat, the regime’s priority appears to be the reinforcement of its ideological narrative: “We are building our own tools for national defense; no foreign power can dictate our destiny.”

The video also reflects the changing nature of DPRK propaganda in the digital age. While earlier broadcasts were largely limited to state television and local radio, the new wave of content is tailored for cross‑border dissemination via social media and global news outlets. By doing so, the regime attempts to shift the narrative from purely domestic propaganda to a form of “information warfare,” influencing international public opinion and diplomatic discourse.

Conclusion

The release of the KCNA video featuring Kim Jong Un alongside a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles is more than a mere showcase of North Korea’s technological ambitions. It is a meticulously crafted propaganda tool designed to assert the DPRK’s self‑reliance, bolster domestic legitimacy, and send a subtle but clear signal to regional and global actors. The drones themselves—while technologically modest by global standards—represent an evolving component of the DPRK’s asymmetric warfare doctrine, raising legitimate concerns about their potential operational use.

As analysts monitor North Korea’s continued drone development and the regime’s media strategy, the message remains clear: the DPRK is intent on projecting an image of technological prowess and strategic capability, regardless of international scrutiny or sanctions. Whether these drones will translate into a tangible military advantage remains to be seen, but the propaganda narrative—embodied in a short video clip—has already set the tone for how the regime intends to portray its future in the eyes of both its people and the world.