South Korea's defence ministry announced on Friday that all branches of its military will undergo training to become drone operators, aiming to train 500,000 authorised personnel as "drone warriors." Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated that "all soldiers should be able to use drones like a second personal firearm," reflecting a major shift in warfare strategy.
Game Changer on the Battlefield
Ahn highlighted that wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated drones are now a "gamechanger on the battlefield." He noted that "low-cost drones operated in large numbers are fundamentally changing the nature of warfare," while warning that North Korea continues to develop its weapons capabilities, increasing threats to military and civilian facilities in the South.
Massive Drone Procurement Plan
The military plans to procure about 11,000 commercial drones for training by the end of this year, rising to 60,000 by 2029. Additionally, it aims to acquire more than 20,000 low-cost disposable combat drones by 2030. Seoul also announced it will fast-track a domestically developed long-range loitering munition called K-Lucas, based on the American Lucas drone, which itself was reverse-engineered from Iran's Shahed-136 suicide drone used extensively by Russia in Ukraine.
Expanding Counter-Drone Systems
The plan includes expanding counter-drone systems such as laser and high-power microwave weapons. This comes after a 2022 incident where five small North Korean drones breached South Korean airspace, with one entering the no-fly zone above the presidential office in Seoul. The military scrambled jets and attack helicopters, firing about 100 shots, but failed to down a single drone.
North Korea's Growing Drone Capabilities
North Korea's drone capabilities have grown considerably, partly through its deepening military partnership with Russia, which analysts say has given Pyongyang access to battlefield data and tactics. Pyongyang has deployed thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, giving its military direct exposure to drone warfare at scale. On Friday, North Korea announced that leader Kim Jong-un oversaw tests of tactical ballistic missiles and an upgraded rocket artillery system with a 90km range, aiming to bolster firepower along its southern border. Kim has also pledged to expand North Korea's nuclear arsenal at an "exponential rate," describing nuclear expansion as the "most correct and unique way" to confront an increasingly unstable world.
