South Korea to Train 500,000 Drone Operators to Counter North Korea

The initiative includes buying more South Korean-made training drones and speeding the military’s adoption of civilian drone technology.

South Korea flies military drones fly in formation during a South Korea–U.S. joint military drill at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Korea, on May 25, 2023. Yelim Lee/AFP via Getty Images

South Korea has announced plans to train 500,000 military personnel to operate drones and rapidly expand unmanned and counter-drone capabilities as Seoul seeks to strengthen defenses against North Korea.

The announcement came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of upgraded artillery and ballistic missile systems that Pyongyang said are intended to strengthen its military posture along the Korean Peninsula’s southern border.