Accra:A recent underwater test by North Korea involved a new high-speed precision-guided torpedo system utilizing artificial intelligence technology. The test signifies a potential shift in the country's naval capabilities, according to North Korean officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the test of the Zam-2.0 super-speed precision-guided torpedo system was conducted to confirm a successful technical upgrade. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that key national defense officials assessed the test as a major success, predicting significant advancements in naval development.
The AI technology applied to this torpedo enhances target detection and guidance functions. The KCNA stated that the test demonstrated core technology improvements in propulsion efficiency and rocket propulsion device performance. Over the past five years, North Korea has conducted more than 180 related tests.
Experts suggest that the new system could be a "supercavitating torpedo," characterized by its ultra-high-speed capabilities, which enable it to overcome water resistance by creating an air bubble in its nose. This technology is challenging to develop due to the difficulty of maintaining effective guidance and control at high speeds underwater.
Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies, believes the test aimed to showcase a torpedo that is hard to detect and avoid, posing a challenge to the South Korean Navy's major surface ships. Shin Jong-woo of the Korea Defense and Security Forum noted that North Korea is working on new torpedoes for submarines as part of its expanding naval capabilities.
North Korea has been actively enhancing its naval strength, as demonstrated by recent strategic missile launches and the commissioning of new destroyers in both the West and East Seas.