Satellite images suggest North Korea bolstering drone infrastructure

Aerial view shows seven completed UAV hangars at Panghyon Airbase in North Korea on March 28 2025 Courtesy of — Newly-completed hangars for drones are visible in North Pyongan Province, North Korea, in this satellite image taken on March 28, 2025 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

SEOUL, April 2 (AJP) - North Korea appears to be expanding its drone infrastructure and may be establishing a separate military unit, according to a report released by a U.S. think tank on Tuesday.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington said satellite images taken last Friday show seven newly built hangars for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at multiple sites in North Pyongan Province on the outskirts of Pyongyang, offering a glimpse into the country's "strategic UAV development activities."

These images show "the completion of additional UAV hangars. This and the establishment of a small experimental and test unit of strategic UAVs suggest a continued production run" of UAVs at these sites, which are "North Korea's only known sites for the production and flight-testing of large strategic UAVs," the report wrote.

As North Korea previously unveiled a drone resembling the U.S. Global Hawk during a military event in recent years, many speculated that its UAVs were largely modeled after U.S. versions. But the report analyzed that they are "not clones."

The report also pointed out, "If North Korea successfully develops and deploys" its UAVs along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) with South Korea, "it will significantly increase the scope and timeliness of the nation's situational awareness in and around the Korean Peninsula."

Im Yoon-seo lyseo0330@ajupress.com

Satellite images suggest North Korea bolstering drone infrastructure

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