North Korea digitally added extra drones to air drill photo, analysis suggests



Investigations North Korea digitally added extra drones to air drill photo, analysis suggests NK Pro discovery of fake combat UAVs in Kim Jong Un image points to effort to make DPRK drone program seem more advanced Colin Zwirko May 27, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON State media appeared to copy and paste the three combat drones circled in yellow in this photo. \| Image: KCNA (May 17, 2025) North Korean state media appears to have digitally added extra combat drones into a photo of leader Kim Jong Un overseeing air force drills earlier this month, NK Pro analysis reveals, part of a likely attempt to make the country’s drone program seem more advanced than it really is. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published one photo on May 17 of Kim standing on a viewing platform at Sunchon Airbase as three Saetbyol-9 combat drones flew over the runway in formation, but close analysis of the photo shows that the drones are identical in size and Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01More than just North Korean threats are driving ROK support for nuke submarines 02A fragile calm holds with North Korea — but don’t mistake it for stability 03Why Trump’s approach to Iran nuclear talks could reinforce North Korean distrust 04Every company that joined North Korea’s not-so-international spring trade fair 05Navigating uncertainty: How Lee Jae-myung could overhaul North Korea policy 06North Korea puts finishing touches on Wonsan Kalma resort ahead of June opening 07North Korea poised to test more weapons in months ahead as 5-year deadline looms 08A third front: Japan’s missile buildup challenges North Korea’s defense plans

Investigations

North Korea digitally added extra drones to air drill photo, analysis suggests

NK Pro discovery of fake combat UAVs in Kim Jong Un image points to effort to make DPRK drone program seem more advanced

Colin Zwirko May 27, 2025

North Korea digitally added extra drones to air drill photo, analysis suggests

State media appeared to copy and paste the three combat drones circled in yellow in this photo. | Image: KCNA (May 17, 2025)

North Korean state media appears to have digitally added extra combat drones into a photo of leader Kim Jong Un overseeing air force drills earlier this month, NK Pro analysis reveals, part of a likely attempt to make the country’s drone program seem more advanced than it really is.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published one photo on May 17 of Kim standing on a viewing platform at Sunchon Airbase as three Saetbyol-9 combat drones flew over the runway in formation, but close analysis of the photo shows that the drones are identical in size and

01More than just North Korean threats are driving ROK support for nuke submarines
02A fragile calm holds with North Korea — but don’t mistake it for stability
03Why Trump’s approach to Iran nuclear talks could reinforce North Korean distrust
04Every company that joined North Korea’s not-so-international spring trade fair
05Navigating uncertainty: How Lee Jae-myung could overhaul North Korea policy
06North Korea puts finishing touches on Wonsan Kalma resort ahead of June opening
07North Korea poised to test more weapons in months ahead as 5-year deadline looms
08A third front: Japan’s missile buildup challenges North Korea’s defense plans

North Korea digitally added extra drones to air drill photo, analysis suggests

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Colin Zwirko