North Korea has announced it has successfully tested a new artificial intelligence (AI) advanced torpedo for better underwater target detection and guidance. The weapon, dubbed Zam-2.0, is part of Pyongyang’s ongoing push to build up its naval capabilities amid its ongoing tensions with South Korea.
The declaration raises an interesting query: Can AI create underwater weapons that are more difficult to detect and defend against? North Korea claims the test was successful, but it’s unknown what the system’s capabilities are.
A New Torpedo Joins North Korea’s Expanding Weapons Program
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on October 17 that the country tested the Zam-2.0 torpedo two days prior, on Thursday, October 15. The test was to verify technical improvements to the weapon system.
The targeting and guidance of the torpedo was enhanced by artificial intelligence, according to KCNA. The agency added that the system was developed to be fast and precise to operate at high speed.
In the simplest terms, “Tracking” is the process of figuring out where the target is, and “Guidance” is how to course-correct the weapon to the target. Such a combination of these functions with AI could enable an underwater weapon to process and respond to changing conditions, but North Korea hasn’t detailed exactly how its system functions.
There wasn’t a sufficient amount of detail to draw technical conclusions either about the torpedo’s performance or the extent of autonomy given to it.
The Test Comes Amid a Wider Push to Strengthen North Korea’s Navy
The unveiling of the Zam-2.0 comes on the heels of Pyongyang’s other military parades. North Korea on Oct. 14 claimed to have fired two types of its strategic cruise missiles from a submarine. The country was also continuing to build up its naval forces with the commissioning of two destroyers in the region.
North Korea’s advances indicate that it is now focusing more on its existing missile programs, as well as its underwater and surface naval capabilities.
AI has also entered into the nation’s military messaging. Earlier, the North Korean government said that its hypersonic missiles are powered by AI. But any claims of advanced technology must be taken with a pinch of salt until there is independent proof and evidence.
The introduction of new naval platforms, new guided weapons, and North Korea’s claimed AI capabilities is an interesting mix for South Korea and others keeping a close eye on North Korean development. Does not automatically imply that all systems that are announced are in operation and functioning as described.
The Biggest Question Is What the AI Can Actually Do
North Korea has not publicly disclosed details of the Zam-2.0’s AI architecture or successfully demonstrated the system’s capabilities under independent, verifiable conditions, nor given any information that would allow an assessment of the degree of autonomy. South Korea’s military has yet to comment on the news when it was first reported.
When it comes to making an AI-powered weapon, that is one thing, but proving that it will work in the real world is another.
The difference is significant because underwater weapons have to overcome challenging engineering problems, especially if it is necessary for them to operate quickly, steer, and be guided accurately. While the expansion of AI technology is enhancing the precision of target detection, it alone is not a solution to all propulsion and underwater sensing and control issues.
So far, the Zam-2.0 test can be interpreted as an additional indication of North Korea’s attempts to use AI in its military development. The technology may prove to be a game-changer in underwater warfare, or it could represent just another advancement in the field, depending on how effective it is in practice.
