North Korea is working to modernize educational facilities and update drone warfare education at a leading military school, Daily NK has learned.
The changes follow reforms ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his Feb. 25 visit to Kang Kon Military Academy, where he criticized outdated learning environments and military tactics education.
“The Ministry of National Defense’s education bureau ordered Kang Kon Military Academy on March 1 to repair facilities, modernize lecture rooms and update the curriculum in response to Kim’s criticisms during his ‘on-the-spot guidance’ visit,” a North Korean military source told Daily NK recently.
According to the source, Kim criticized the academy for being disconnected from modern warfare realities.
Kim harshly condemned educational methods stuck in the 1970s and 1980s, such as wargaming with wooden miniatures, while today’s battlefield centers on drones and electronic warfare.
“How can we train effective infantry field commanders with such outdated techniques?” Kim reportedly asked.
Kim demanded a major curriculum overhaul. “Drone warfare and automated command systems are now central to modern battlefields. I’m puzzled why we’re still teaching infantry tactics from decades past.”
In essence, Kim wants junior infantry commanders trained for emerging battlefield trends.
“Our soldiers may be highly motivated and possess revolutionary mindsets, but they won’t succeed in battle unless their commanders are prepared for modern warfare. When instruction at our military academies falls behind changing times, our commanders’ capabilities suffer. This can lead to units being destroyed in combat,” the source quoted Kim as saying.
“Kim emphasized the urgency of revamping military education to address drone warfare and autonomous command systems,” the source added.
Following Kim’s criticism, the North Korean military quickly procured dozens of advanced computers for the academy. On March 2, the academy began comprehensive work to repair facilities and modernize classrooms.
The academy is also collaborating with experts from the Ministry’s education bureau to develop a new curriculum covering modern warfare, including drones.
“The education bureau instructed Kang Kon Military Academy to complete its curriculum updates and submit a report to Kim Jong Un by late June. The bureau stressed meeting this deadline is crucial for training junior infantry commanders for the Korean People’s Army,” the source said.
The apparent motivation behind the curriculum overhaul is the regime’s conclusion that North Korean troops deployed to Russia’s Ukraine war were tactically limited by their inability to effectively respond to drone warfare.
“Given Kim’s criticism, the military must update tactical training for junior infantry commanders that has fallen behind current standards. However, there’s skepticism within the military about whether these curriculum changes will yield significant short-term improvements,” the source said.
March 12, 2025 at 05:00AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)