North Korea has tested a new AI-equipped submarine torpedo in its latest display of naval weapons development. The test took place on Thursday, and the country’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the result on Saturday, describing it as a success and a significant step forward for the country’s navy.
- KCNA says North Korea tested the “super-speed” Zam-2.0 torpedo on Thursday.
- The torpedo uses AI for target detection and guidance, KCNA said; its propulsion was developed through more than 180 tests over five years.
- It follows North Korea’s test of two submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles on Wednesday.
- Both Koreas are racing to build weapons that can evade missile defences amid heightened tensions.
What KCNA says about the submarine test
According to KCNA, the test verified propulsion technology developed through more than 180 tests over the past five years. The agency said artificial intelligence was used for target detection and guidance in the new high-speed, precision-guided torpedo. KCNA described the test as a success and a significant step in the country’s naval development, adding that it demonstrated improvements in propulsion efficiency and the performance of the torpedo’s rocket propulsion system.
AFP identified the system as the “super-speed” Zam-2.0, reporting that the test-fire took place on Thursday “to confirm the successful technical updating” of the weapon. KCNA said “AI technology was applied to the target detection and the guidance function of the new-type super-speed precisely guided torpedo,” according to AFP.
A week of weapons tests
The torpedo test is the latest in a rapid run of North Korean weapons launches. It came after North Korea said it had tested two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles on Wednesday to verify its navy’s mission capabilities and the reliability of its war deterrent. Pyongyang has been working to develop modern missile submarines alongside ballistic and cruise missiles, test-launching them from various platforms, including an aging submarine.
South Korea has responded in kind. President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the country’s first test-firing of a domestically developed hypersonic missile last week. Seoul’s hypersonic glide vehicle is a maneuverable weapon that can change course during flight, and its test came days after Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile.
Earlier this month, North Korea announced that it had carried out the AI-assisted launch of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile. In September, Kim emphasized the need to raise “the level of artificial intelligence” in the country’s weapons systems. Analysts have said North Korea could be rapidly advancing its missile technology with Russian military support in exchange for sending troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, AFP reported.
Why it matters
Both Koreas are racing to develop weapons capable of evading missile defences, and the underwater domain is becoming a key frontier. Missile and naval technology is reshaping conflicts across the region — see our coverage of Houthi missiles hitting Aden’s presidential palace and Trump ruling out new Iran strikes before the US midterms for more on the shifting geopolitical picture.
Sources: Reuters; AFP (via Malay Mail); The Straits Times.
