The South Korean military’s failure to intercept or shoot down five North Korean drones that entered ROK airspace this week showcased the significant strategic value these capabilities provide Pyongyang, which experts say has made considerable progress in advancing their developments as tools of war.

Drones’ “adaptability” is a big part of their appeal to countries like the DPRK, offering both reconnaissance functions and the ability to deliver destructive payloads, in a way unlike most other military systems, according to National University of Singapore (NUS) lecturer Beryl Pong.

“Because drones are versatile, they may often be deployed with one purpose or