North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has observed a test of newly developed suicide drones and ordered his country's military to be equipped with them as soon as possible.

The ruling Workers' Party newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, reported on Monday that Kim oversaw Saturday's test organized by the Drone Institute of the Academy of Defence Sciences.

The report includes photos of what appear to be drones, but the images were partially blurred. Some photos show what are described as drones destroying targets.

The report says all the drones correctly identified and destroyed the designated targets.

Kim said developing different types of drones and steadily increasing their combat performance is an important part in preparing for war. He stressed the need to equip People's Army units with drones.

Kim also ordered the development of underwater suicide attack drones and the proactive introduction of artificial intelligence technology.

A five-year national defense plan made public by North Korea in 2021 calls for the development of unmanned combat equipment.

A South Korean expert says this is the first time for the North to unveil its suicide drones. The expert says the move is apparently aimed at showing defiance toward the United States and South Korea.

The two countries are scheduled to continue their regular joint military exercise through Thursday.