According to the state-run [North] Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the exhibition was held the previous day "with splendor," and Kim, accompanied by his wife and daughter as well as senior military officers and other officials, stressed the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare and called for the rapid development of the country's drone capabilities.
Kim also urged researchers to step up efforts to improve the country's drone and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for military use.
The exhibition featured several types of drones as well as cruise missiles and a 600-mm multiple rocket launcher. Later in the day, North Korea also fired a series of short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.
KCNA claimed that the missiles were launched from drones and other unmanned aircraft, along with cruise missiles, hitting their targets with "100-percent accuracy."
Military authorities here said they detected the missiles being fired from Wonsan, Kangwon Province at around 12:30 p.m., believed to have been launched from the North's KN-25, a 600mm multiple rocket launcher that Pyongyang claims can carry tactical nuclear warheads.
"We are aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region," it said.
But PACOM said North Korea launched "two ballistic missiles," fewer than the roughly 10 detected by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
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