North Korea has unveiled a swarm of intelligence-controlled suicide drones in its race to modernise the armed forces through AI technology.

Pyongyang released photos on Thursday of the drones striking ground targets, including a tank, and revealed its first early-warning aircraft.

Overseeing the event, Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, told state media: “The field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritised and developed in modernising the armed forces.”

Wearing a brown leather jacket, the dictator inspected upgraded reconnaissance UAVs, reportedly capable of identifying tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea.