The photo is illustrativeCurrently, North Korea has approximately 500 unmanned aerial vehicles belonging to 20 different types. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap with reference to the secretary of the parliamentary intelligence committee, Yoo Sang Bom, who received information from the country's intelligence service.
It should be noted that back in 2012, the DPRK acquired several American MQM-107 Streaker UAVs in the Middle East. North Korea also has Soviet-made unmanned aerial vehicles in service.
According to the South Korean side, currently the unmanned aircraft of the DPRK is represented mainly by small UAVs. They have sizes from 1 to 6 meters, their flight range cannot yet be called large either.
The development of larger long-range reconnaissance drones, however, is already underway. The National Intelligence Agency of the Republic of Korea, however, is convinced that the development of medium and large drones is in the initial stage. This means that the Korean People's Army Air Force is unlikely to receive them in the near future.
However, if the DPRK receives high-tech sensors and other equipment, the process of creating larger and longer-range unmanned aerial vehicles will accelerate. In addition, Pyongyang is now showing increased interest in the opportunities provided by unmanned aircraft.
For example, on December 26, the South Korean military department reported the invasion of the country's airspace by five North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles. Despite its military and technical capabilities, the air defense of the Republic of Korea was unable to shoot down North Korean drones. They disappeared from the air defense radars – probably returned to the territory of North Korea. This incident seriously alarmed the South Korean leadership.
