Drone warfare poses new security threats to South Korea, experts warn

Panelists take part in a seminar titled “The expansion of drone warfare and changes in the global security environment observed in Ukraine and Iran,” hosted by Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Yu’s office

North Korea is rapidly absorbing drone warfare tactics and combat experience through its participation in Russia's war against Ukraine, raising new security concerns for South Korea, experts said Thursday.

They warned that the growing role of low-cost unmanned systems is reshaping modern warfare and could directly affect the security environment on the Korean Peninsula.

The remarks were made at a seminar hosted by Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul. The event brought together Ukrainian and South Korean security experts to assess how recent conflicts are transforming the nature of warfare.

Yu said the global security environment is undergoing what he described as a fundamental shift, with unmanned systems emerging as a central driver of change on the battlefield.

He pointed to cases in which relatively inexpensive drones are used to destroy high-value targets, noting that such developments are challenging long-standing assumptions about military power and deterrence.

“The rules of warfare are being rewritten,” Yu said, emphasizing that the gap between low-cost drones and expensive missile defense systems is becoming a critical issue for modern militaries.

Yang Uk, a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said drones are no longer auxiliary tools but have become the core of combat operations. He described a battlefield environment in which surveillance and strike functions are increasingly integrated, allowing forces to detect and attack targets nearly in real time.

“Drones are no longer equipment but consumables,” Yang said. “Battlefields are turning into unmanned zones as these systems are deployed in large numbers.”

An artificial intelligence-enabled drone flies in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 27, 2024. Reuters-Yonhap

He warned that North Korea is learning directly from the Russia-Ukraine war, where the North has been sending troops to support Russia. “They have observed and absorbed these concepts in real combat conditions,” he said. “There is no reason for them not to adopt and use these capabilities.”

Yang also pointed to an expanding network connecting Iran, Russia and North Korea in terms of drone development and operations. He added that this cooperation is increasingly structured and could expand further in the near future.

According to Yang, China’s involvement in the supply chain is a key factor behind the rapid expansion of drone capabilities. He noted that a significant proportion of critical components used in Russian drones are sourced through Chinese channels, enabling large-scale production.

“This is not a distant issue,” he said. “It is something that could directly affect our security in the near future.”

Mykhailo Samus, director of the New Geopolitics Research Network in Ukraine, said the war has accelerated a broader transformation in military doctrine. He said that unmanned systems and digital technologies are increasingly replacing traditional weapons, making armored vehicles and other legacy platforms more vulnerable.

“Technology is now decisive on the battlefield,” he said. He added that the widespread use of low-cost drones is forcing militaries to reconsider how they conduct operations, particularly given the disproportionately high cost of intercepting such systems.

Nataliya Butyrska, a senior fellow at the New Europe Center, highlighted the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. She said that Pyongyang has gained valuable operational experience in return for providing ammunition and personnel to support Moscow’s war effort.

She added that such cooperation forms part of a broader alignment involving political, economic and military coordination between the two countries, which could have long-term implications for regional security.

Experts said these developments highlight the need for South Korea to adapt its military strategy. Yang warned that the country’s current approach to drone operations remains outdated and may not be sufficient to counter emerging threats.

“If we fail to change our concept, we could continue to be outmatched by North Korea,” he said.