North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led the test of suicide drones and ordered mass production of the aerial weapons, saying the deployment of such drones around the world requires an urgent update to military theory, state media reported Friday.

Kim previously oversaw the testing of suicide drones earlier this year amid rapidly evolving military cooperation with Russia, raising questions about whether he received technical help from Moscow to develop them.

These weapons, also known as loitering munitions, were widely used in the Ukrainian war as well as in the Middle East.

“(Kim) stressed the need to build a mass production system as soon as possible and move to large-scale mass production,” state news agency KCNA reported.

Kim added that competition for the military use of drones is intensifying around the world as military authorities are likely to recognize their success in conflicts of varying sizes.

“Such an objective change requires urgent updating of many parts of military theory, practice and education,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

North Korea has sent drones across the border into the South, flying for hours in key areas including the capital Seoul and the no-fly zone around the South Korean presidential office.

This led South Korea to deploy weapons to shoot down North Korean drones.

North Korea and Russia recently ratified the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement signed by their leaders in June, which includes a mutual defense pact.

North Korea sent troops to Russia’s western fronts during the war with Ukraine, and South Korean and U.S. officials said North Korean soldiers took part in the fighting against Ukraine alongside Russian troops.

Jack Kim/Reuters.