North Korea tests medium-range missile claiming to use AI technology, Kim Jong-un inspects with his wife and daughter

North Korea test-fired a medium-range missile in its eastern region on the 3rd, trailing orange flames as it took off. (Reuters)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] North Korea’s frequent missile tests have recently joined a new technological propaganda war. Just as a bloody explosion occurred in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border between the two Koreas and the regional situation became tense, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un once again personally supervised the test-firing of a missile over the weekend. The Pyongyang authorities even made a rare announcement that this hypersonic strategic weapon has introduced "artificial intelligence (AI) technology" and can automatically change its trajectory to make the enemy defenseless.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju (left) and their daughter Kim Ju Ae (right) inspect missile tests in the eastern region on the 3rd. (Taken from KCNA/Reuters)

Agence France-Presse quoted an English telegraph report released by North Korea's official media "Korean Central News Agency" (KCNA) on the 4th that the missile was launched from near the coastal city of Wonsan on the east coast in the early morning of Saturday (3rd). South Korean military detection data showed that the missile flew more than 700 kilometers. What drew the most attention to this military demonstration was North Korea's official tone on "smart weapons." Reports pointed out that the launch was to train soldiers to operate a "hypersonic strategic weapon system."

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Kim Jong-un and his wife and daughter watched the missile take off live

In addition to the show of force, photos released by North Korean state media also showed a smiling Kim Jong-un, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae, who may be his successor, and his wife Ri Sol-ju who clapped her hands in celebration, personally inspecting the launch of the missile.

In response to the special performance of the new weapon, Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong, who has great political influence, claimed that the missile uses AI artificial intelligence technology to adjust its flight trajectory. She emphasized that this technology means that the missile "can change its flight path at low altitude", which also means that the enemy "has no way to avoid" this wave of attacks. After the inspection, Kim Jong-un also shouted to the troops, instructing North Korea to make continuous and uninterrupted efforts to "let the enemy understand the reliability and lethality of our strategic offensive methods."

The test launch comes at a time when physical conflicts on the border between the two Koreas are heating up. A few days ago, an explosion occurred in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, injuring three South Korean soldiers. Seoul's military pointed the finger at Pyongyang and demanded an apology; North Korea on Friday denied responsibility for the bombing and criticized South Korea's "despicable" attitude, further weakening the diplomatic efforts of Seoul's civilian government to resume dialogue between the two sides.