North Korea has unveiled a new generation of military technologies — including weapons systems with integrated artificial intelligence and a previously unseen tracked air defense platform — during a major defense exhibition in Pyongyang.
The event, titled “Defense Development 2025,” was reported by the Korean Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA) and featured a speech by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“Weapons systems are being developed or improved to respond effectively to changes in modern warfare, and the latest scientific advancements, including artificial intelligence technologies, are being actively introduced,” Kim said during the opening address.
Among the most notable displays was a new short-range air defense system mounted on a tracked chassis — a departure from the wheeled platforms typically associated with North Korea’s previous designs.
Photographs released from the exhibition show a system bearing strong resemblance to Russia’s Pantsir air defense system in concept and structure, though adapted for a tracked platform. This change suggests a focus on improved mobility and survivability in rough terrain and contested environments. Such a design is particularly suited for deployment alongside ground maneuver forces, allowing for close-range air defense that can move with frontline units.
A similar configuration is currently under development in Russia, where tracked Pantsir variants are being designed to replace aging Tunguska systems and provide more effective defenses against the increasing use of drones. North Korea’s version is likely intended to support this type of layered defense — protecting long-range surface-to-air missile systems and shielding critical administrative, industrial, or military infrastructure from precision strikes.
KCNA did not release technical specifications.
North Korea’s partnership with Russia has also entered a new phase. Pyongyang has received the naval variant of the Pantsir air defense system — known as Pantsir-ME — which has already been installed on the country’s first naval destroyer.
The exhibition itself served a dual purpose — both as a demonstration of technological progress and a message to adversaries. By publicly displaying indigenous advancements in AI-enhanced weaponry and advanced air defense capabilities, Pyongyang aims to show that it is adapting to the realities of 21st-century warfare despite heavy sanctions and international pressure.