North Korean state media says country tested AI-guided torpedo system Zam-2.0

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Saturday, 17 October 2026, that the country conducted an underwater test of a new torpedo weapon system. KCNA said the test took place on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

According to KCNA, the system is named Zam-2.0. The agency described it as super-speed and precision-guided. CGTN quoted KCNA as calling it "a new-type superspeed precision-guided torpedo weapon system".

KCNA said artificial intelligence (AI) was applied to the weapon's target detection and guidance functions. It said the test was intended to verify technical upgrades to the system. CGTN quoted the agency as saying the test aimed to "confirm the successful technical updating" of the weapon.

CGTN, the South China Morning Post and The Hindu all base their reports on KCNA's account. None of the reports reviewed by Vocemundi include independent verification of the test.

Further details reported

According to KCNA, as cited by CGTN, the test was conducted by the Academy of Defence Science, the Missile Administration and the Torpedo Weapon Research Bureau.

The South China Morning Post and The Hindu cited KCNA as saying the test was successful. They also cited KCNA as saying it verified propulsion technology developed through more than 180 tests over the past five years.

KCNA did not explain what it meant by artificial intelligence, according to The Hindu.

Context

According to The Hindu, North Korea conducted its first underwater-launched missile tests in nearly three years on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The newspaper also reported that North Korea tested hypersonic missile systems of various ranges on 20 September and 3 October.

The Hindu reported that Kim Jong Un has in recent years halted all diplomacy and cooperation with South Korea and described it as a permanent enemy. Nuclear negotiations with Washington remain stalled, according to the same report.

What each side says

• North Korea (via KCNA): It successfully tested a new super-speed, precision-guided torpedo system that uses AI for target detection and guidance.
• Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong Un: The missiles tested on 3 October also used AI technology, according to The Hindu.
• Unnamed experts cited by The Hindu: North Korea is likely improving its guidance software. They doubt that its weapons have advanced digital capabilities such as autonomous target designation. They also said the 14 October tests likely involved a yet-to-be-deployed submarine that Pyongyang has said is designed to launch nuclear weapons.
• South Korea's military: It did not immediately comment on the KCNA report, according to The Hindu. The newspaper noted that it often accuses North Korea of exaggerating its military technologies.

What remains unclear

The reports do not describe where the test took place. They do not include performance data such as speed, range or the target engaged. They state that AI was used for target detection and guidance but do not explain its technical implementation. They do not describe whether Kim Jong Un or other senior officials attended.

Analysis

The account of the Zam-2.0 test rests on a single origin: North Korean state media. Without comment from South Korea, the United States, Japan or other parties, its claims about speed, precision and AI cannot be independently verified, though some experts cited by The Hindu have offered a partial assessment of the AI claims. One possibility is that the announcement reflects real progress in guidance software, as those experts suggest. Another is that the AI label overstates modest upgrades, a concern South Korea's military has raised about past claims. The test also follows several weapons tests reported in recent weeks. How regional governments respond may shape tensions, but the reports offer no basis for predicting that response.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.