Defense Shifts: Pyongyang Mass-Produces Drones and Tests 700 km Missile

North Korea has started mass-producing attack drones and continued upgrading its ballistic missiles, a shift driven by deepening military cooperation with Russia, according to a report by The New York Times. The two nations expanded their ties after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow sharing military developments in exchange for North Korean soldiers, workers, and weapons.

In early October, Pyongyang tested a tactical ballistic missile that it says can carry a nuclear payload. South Korea and Japan estimated the missile traveled approximately 700 kilometers, while North Korea claimed a range of 1,000 kilometers. Analyst Anton Ponomarenko said that access to Russian deployment data and feedback has helped North Korea improve the accuracy and maneuverability of its weapons, making the threat to South Korea more substantial.

South Korea responded to the missile test by firing its own hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time, five days after the North's launch. President Lee Jae Myung observed the test, a move that marked a departure from Seoul’s usual practice of issuing short, provocative statements. The New York Times described this reaction as a sign of growing unease in Seoul regarding the rapid progress of North Korea’s missile technology.

The North Korean military has observed how inexpensive drones can overwhelm costly air defense systems in Ukraine and the Middle East. Consequently, Russia has assisted Pyongyang in building and producing unmanned systems in large numbers. During a drill last month, a drone swarm attacked a target island while cruise and ballistic missiles struck from different directions simultaneously.

Bloomberg reported in September that Russia is using up to 25,000 North Korean citizens to produce military drones at facilities in Alabuga, Tatarstan. A North Korean missile forces unit, which could be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine, has also begun deploying in western Russia. The New York Times argued that these evolving tactics will force South Korea and its allies to redesign their air defenses at a high cost.

This development follows other recent accounts of the partnership. In June 2026, North Korea announced tests of a modernized 240mm multiple-launch rocket system, a tactical ballistic missile, and a 155mm long-range artillery shell. In August, Russia asked North Korea to provide KN-30 ballistic missiles.

The shift toward mass production of drones and improved missile accuracy signals a change in the balance of military capabilities in the region. The exchange of data and labor between Moscow and Pyongyang has accelerated the modernization of North Korea's armed forces, creating a more complex defensive challenge for its neighbors.