Story perspectives

North Korea Sends 12,000 Workers to Produce Drone Swarms

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 10:54 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

North Korea Sends Workers

North Korea is sending 12,000 workers to Russia to produce Shahed-type drones.
The deal gives Russia a laboratory and provides North Korea arms, soldiers, drone expertise.
North Korea is upgrading forces to launch swarms of low-cost drones at South Korea and U.S. defenses.
Three South Korea soldiers were injured by North Korea land mines south of the border, prompting warning shots.

Summary

South Korea Deploys Laser

South Korea deployed the 30-kilowatt Cheongwang laser to destroy hostile drones without missiles.
Hanwha Systems says each Cheongwang engagement costs about $1.50, far cheaper than interceptor missiles.
The Block-II mobile version, funded in the 2027 budget, targets truck-mounted deployment by year-end 2027.
Analysts say the stationary design limits protection area, prompting research into lighter, vehicle-compatible lasers.
Tests will evaluate 80-kilowatt oscillators to enable missile interception within a decade.

History

Historical Context

In 2002 the U.S.–Israel Tactical High-Energy Laser proved a 30-kilowatt beam could destroy 28 Katyusha rockets and several artillery shells at White Sands. The success inspired later systems, including the U.S. Navy’s 2014 LaWS and South Korea’s 2024 Cheongwang 20-kilowatt laser, while North Korea’s collaboration with Russia on drone production fuels a regional arms race in unmanned-air and laser defenses.

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North Korea Sends Workers

North Korea is sending 12,000 workers to Russia to produce Shahed-type drones.
The deal gives Russia a laboratory and provides North Korea arms, soldiers, drone expertise.
North Korea is upgrading forces to launch swarms of low-cost drones at South Korea and U.S. defenses.
Three South Korea soldiers were injured by North Korea land mines south of the border, prompting warning shots.

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