North Korea on May 17 released footage of a live-fire drill involving a new medium-range air-to-air missile launched from a fighter jet—suggesting the missile has reached the operational stage.
While South Korea only this year began a localization program to replace its American- and European-made air-to-air missiles, the North appears to have not only completed development but also conducted successful training with its own version.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, leader Kim Jong-un observed an air combat and air defense training exercise on May 15. During the drill, MiG-29 fighter jets fired new air-to-air missiles and glide-guided bombs to intercept cruise missile and drone targets. This marked the first time North Korea has publicly released footage of a live-fire test of the missile, which analysts believe was developed using Russian technology.
The release reflects a broader trend in North Korea’s military strategy. In recent months, Pyongyang has accelerated efforts to bolster its conventional weapons systems—an area long considered S. Korea’s advantage.
On the same day as the missile test, North Korea also revealed an unmanned aerial vehicle resembling the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, underscoring its growing focus on modernizing non-nuclear assets.
Experts attribute this rapid advancement to a combination of North Korea’s reverse-engineering capabilities and deepening military ties with Russia. With its nuclear and missile programs already posing a significant threat, the North’s conventional forces are now being upgraded in ways that could shift the broader balance of power on the peninsula.
The footage released on May 17 shows a MiG-29 launching both the new air-to-air missile and a glide bomb, successfully destroying simulated cruise missile and drone targets. North Korea had first introduced the missile at the “Self-Defense 2021” military exhibition, and the latest exercise indicates that the system has since completed development and entered combat drills.
The missile’s appearance resembles China’s PL-12 and the U.S. AIM-120 AMRAAM, but observers say its design more closely matches the PL-12. That resemblance raises the likelihood that Pyongyang, like Beijing before it, may have received core technologies from Russia. China is widely believed to have relied on Russian support during its development of the PL-12.
Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the ruling People Power Party commented on the development, saying, “Although North Korea demonstrated only short-range air-to-air capabilities in this exercise, it seems to have secured some level of system integration for medium-range variants, which are technically more complex. This suggests that Russia may have transferred key technologies under their growing military partnership.”
The aerial targets used in the drill appeared to include an anti-ship missile similar in shape to North Korea’s version of “Uran,” as well as a drone with a stingray-like silhouette. Analysts believe these were chosen to simulate cruise missiles and stealth drones operated by South Korea, showcasing Pyongyang’s evolving air-to-air capabilities.
North Korea’s military modernization, particularly in the conventional arena, appears closely tied to its increasingly close relationship with Moscow. On Apr. 30, the North unveiled a new warship called “Choe Hyon,” which it has described as its version of an Aegis-class destroyer.
The ship was shown firing a hypersonic cruise missile, a strategic cruise missile, and air defense missiles. The hypersonic missile bore a striking resemblance to Russia’s Zircon, a ship-launched hypersonic weapon.
In addition, the four-panel phased array radar mounted on the ship’s mast appears similar in configuration and placement to those used on Russia’s Karakurt-class corvettes. These radar systems, standard on Aegis-type vessels, provide 360-degree surveillance. The ship’s integrated air defense system also looks similar in design to Russia’s Pantsir missile system.
A S. Korean military official said, “North Korea is not just receiving technological blueprints from Russia—it is getting the actual hardware, including reconnaissance satellites, launch platforms, drones, electronic warfare systems, and surface-to-air missile units.”
