(2nd LD) N. Korea tests new precision-guided torpedo using AI: KCNA

North Korea tested the Zam-2.0, described as a super-speed precision-guided torpedo weapon system. The test was conducted underwater to confirm a technical upgrade. It matters because North Korean officials said the result could bring a significant change to the country’s naval capabilities.

The test took place Thursday, two days before the report was published. North Korea said AI technology supports the torpedo’s target detection and guidance functions. The test also examined propulsion efficiency and the performance of rocket propulsion devices.

The country did not disclose detailed specifications. Experts said the weapon could be a supercavitating torpedo because of its claimed rocket propulsion and “super-speed” description. North Korea said more than 180 related tests had taken place over five years, while experts linked the weapon to possible submarine deployment.

A precision-guided torpedo is an underwater weapon designed to identify a target and adjust its course toward that target. This can make it more accurate than a basic torpedo that follows a preset or less flexible path. The distinction matters because a moving naval ship can change direction after a weapon is launched.

In this case, North Korea said AI technology was applied to target detection and the torpedo’s guidance function. That means the system is intended to help recognize a target and steer toward it. The Zam-2.0 is also described as high-speed, adding another claimed advantage.

The article does not provide a detailed comparison with a specific conventional torpedo. It also does not confirm how autonomous the AI system is. Experts note that high-speed underwater weapons face challenges in maintaining effective guidance and control, so the claimed precision remains connected to difficult technical work.

North Korea said artificial intelligence performs two functions in the Zam-2.0 torpedo. It is applied to target detection and to the weapon’s guidance function. These capabilities matter because a torpedo must find or identify a target and then direct its movement underwater.

The reported system is designed to detect a target and guide the torpedo toward it. The article does not explain which sensors are used or how the AI makes decisions. It also does not state whether the system can independently select targets or only assist a preplanned attack.

The AI claims come alongside claims of greater speed and improved propulsion. Experts warned that high-speed underwater weapons have faced difficulties in maintaining guidance and control. Therefore, AI is presented as a key feature, but the article provides no independent performance measurements or operational evidence for the Zam-2.0.

North Korea said its torpedo development program has included more than 180 related tests during the past five years. The figure indicates a sustained effort rather than a one-time demonstration. It matters because the country is presenting the Zam-2.0 as the result of repeated technical work.

Thursday’s underwater launch was intended to confirm a successful technical upgrade. North Korea said the test examined propulsion efficiency and the performance of rocket propulsion devices. The reported test count covers related tests, not necessarily 180 launches of the exact Zam-2.0 configuration.

The article gives no breakdown of the tests, their locations, or their success rates. It also does not independently verify the number. North Korea is simultaneously pushing broader naval development, including submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles and recently commissioned destroyers, suggesting torpedoes are part of a wider maritime effort.

A supercavitating torpedo is an ultra-high-speed underwater weapon that creates an air bubble around its nose. The bubble helps separate much of the weapon from the surrounding water. This reduces water resistance, allowing the torpedo to travel faster than conventional torpedoes.

Experts linked the Zam-2.0 to this design because North Korea called it “super-speed” and mentioned rocket propulsion devices. The air bubble is the key mechanism. It changes the weapon’s contact with the water, which can support much higher speed than ordinary underwater travel.

The article does not confirm that the Zam-2.0 is definitely supercavitating. It says the weapon could be one because of the North’s descriptions. Other countries developing such torpedoes have reportedly faced technical challenges, especially in keeping guidance and control effective at very high underwater speeds.

Guiding a torpedo at very high speed is difficult because speed can make stable control harder. A weapon must detect its target, calculate changes, and steer accurately while moving through water. Any delay or loss of control can make it miss a moving ship.

A supercavitating design adds another complication. The torpedo creates an air bubble around its nose to reduce water resistance. That bubble enables speed, but it can also complicate sensing and steering because the weapon is operating in an unusual mix of air and water. The article specifically points to guidance and control as major challenges.

Other countries pursuing high-speed torpedoes have reportedly faced difficulties deploying them operationally. North Korea’s test therefore demonstrates a claimed technical advance, not confirmed battlefield capability. The article gives no independent data showing how accurately the Zam-2.0 can guide itself at operational speed.

The reported weapon could increase the danger to South Korean naval ships if its speed and guidance work as claimed. Lim Eul-chul said the test appeared intended to showcase a super-speed, AI-driven torpedo that would be difficult to detect in advance and avoid. The article specifically mentions major South Korean surface ships.

The weapon’s possible mechanism is a combination of high speed, target detection, and guided movement. Shin Jong-woo assessed that North Korea is developing new torpedoes for submarines as its submarine capabilities expand. This would connect the torpedo program to a broader underwater strategy.

The article does not confirm operational deployment or the weapon’s actual range, accuracy, or speed. It says North Korea is trying to narrow its military-capability gap with South Korea. The torpedo test occurred alongside submarine-launched strategic cruise-missile tests and the commissioning of two destroyers, indicating continued naval expansion.