North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported today that the test of the "Zam-2.0 super-fast precision-guided torpedo system" was conducted on 15/10. The aim was to confirm the successful upgrade of the weapon's technical features. Specific details about this weapon were not disclosed.

"AI technology is applied to the new torpedo's target detection and guidance system," KCNA stated. The torpedo's engine was also refined through over 180 tests over the past 5 years. Test results indicated improved propulsion and enhanced operational performance.

North Korea tested a nuclear-capable unmanned underwater vehicle in 2023. Photo: KCNA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized in September the need to enhance "AI capabilities" in the country's weapon systems. Earlier this month, North Korea also announced the test of a long-range strategic missile "capable of trajectory changes at low altitudes and integrated with AI technology."

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul recently escalated following a landmine explosion in a South Korean-controlled area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on 21/9, injuring three of its soldiers.

The two nations subsequently conducted a series of advanced weapon tests. Last week, South Korea test-fired its domestically produced hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) for the first time.

On 14/10, North Korea announced it had tested two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles to verify the combat readiness of its underwater operational systems. Pyongyang often uses the term "strategic" to refer to weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Nhu Tam (According to Yonhap, AFP)