[AI Rulemakers]⑧Yongwon Yoo: "North Korea Intensifies Mixed Drone and Missile Attacks... AI-Based Integrated Air Defense Urgently Needed"

"Like in the Wars in Ukraine and Iran, North Korea Will Also Launch Mixed Attacks"

"AI-Dedicated Organizations Need Budgetary Discretion and Special Immunity"

"Hardware-Centric Acquisition Systems Cannot Keep Up With AI's Pace"

Specia

Editor's NoteThe Republic of Korea became the second country in the world, after the European Union, to enact a fundamental law on artificial intelligence (AI). Now, half a year into its implementation, are the law and related policies keeping up with the rapidly evolving technologies and industries? Through the [AI Rulemaker] series, The Asia Business Daily meets with leading lawmakers in the field of AI legislation and explores institutional solutions for South Korea to survive in the global AI competition.

Yongwon Yoo, a member of the People Power Party, emphasized the urgent need to establish an AI-based integrated air defense command and control system to counter North Korea's "mixed launch" attacks using drones and missiles. He called for bold special measures to enhance the Republic of Korea military’s competitiveness in defense AI, including reforming the weapon acquisition system and granting more autonomy in budgeting and organizational operations.

Yoo, who previously worked as a military affairs journalist, said in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, "One characteristic of the wars in Ukraine and Iran is the tactic of launching attacks that combine drones and missiles." He added, "North Korea is also likely to employ tactics involving hundreds of drones alongside missile launches." In fact, on September 14, North Korea carried out a joint strike exercise mobilizing four types of weapons simultaneously: cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Yongwon Yoo, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Yoo said, "If hundreds of targets are incoming simultaneously, it's difficult for a person to manually determine the threat priority for each one. AI must quickly identify the most urgent targets and decide which weapons should be deployed to respond." He further stressed, "It is critical to rapidly establish an AI-integrated air defense command and control system tailored to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats."

Regarding the ROK military's AI capabilities, he evaluated, "We are still significantly behind the United States, China, Ukraine, Israel, and others." He pointed out that the existing weapon acquisition system, which is hardware-centric around tanks, fighter jets, and warships, cannot keep pace with the rapidly advancing fields of AI and software that evolve on a monthly basis.

To address this, Yoo has introduced a series of legislative proposals on defense AI, including the "Special Act on Software-Centric Weapon Systems Acquisition" and the "Act on Advanced Defense Power Projects." The intent is to quickly introduce advanced weaponry before all performance requirements are fully met and then enhance their sophistication through continuous performance upgrades—an overhaul of the traditional weapons acquisition approach.

Yoo also called for bold special measures, such as lowering entry barriers for defense industry startups and granting greater autonomy over budgeting and organizational management to expand the pool of defense AI specialists. He said, "Given the nature of military organizations, we can't eliminate security measures entirely, but flexibility must be allowed in the fields of AI and software," adding, "A change in mindset and decisive action from military leadership are essential."

The following is a Q&A with Assemblyman Yoo.

Yongwon Yu, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongjoo Yoon

-How is AI changing the nature of modern warfare?

▲AI rapidly connects all processes from target detection and identification to a commander's decision-making. In actual battlefields, radio interference often cuts GPS signals, but AI drones can independently identify and strike targets in such situations. This is why countries like Ukraine and Russia are ultimately focused on developing and deploying AI drones.

-To what extent is North Korea focusing on developing AI-based weapon systems?

▲At a recent party congress, North Korea designated the development of an "AI-based unmanned attack system" as a core task for its 2026–2030 five-year defense advancement plan. Key elements from the previous five-year plan, such as a nuclear-powered submarine and a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), have become largely realized. This new plan will not end simply as a slogan, either.

-How are North Korea's attack tactics evolving, and how should we respond?

▲Like in Ukraine and Iran, North Korea is expected to employ tactics involving hundreds of drones and missile launches. Even Ukraine, which established four to five layers of defense—from radio jamming to missile interception and shotgun responses—could not fully block these massed attacks. Our defenses are even more vulnerable to such tactics. We must urgently build an 'AI-integrated air defense command and control system' that can assess the threat priority among hundreds of targets and swiftly allocate interception resources.

-How do you assess the military’s AI capabilities and weapons acquisition system?

▲We are at the stage of introducing limited AI functions into unmanned ground vehicles or interceptor drones, but remain significantly behind countries like the US, China, Ukraine, and Israel. The current acquisition system is hardware-oriented—focused on assets like tanks, fighter jets, and warships. It can take over ten years to procure a new weapon, so it is impossible to keep up with AI and software, which evolve on a monthly basis, using such a rigid process.

-What legislative initiatives are you working on to expand the participation of defense AI startups?

▲Our defense industry is dominated by large corporations, making it hard for startups with advanced technologies to enter. The military must have the flexibility and authority to acquire software, not just hardware. That's why I sponsored the "Special Act on Software-Centric Weapon Systems" and co-sponsored the "Act on Advanced Defense Power Projects" with other ruling party lawmakers to facilitate the rapid procurement of AI, drone, and robotic systems. There should be no divisions between ruling and opposition parties when it comes to national security.

-Can AI and unmanned systems be the answer to troop reduction problems?

▲At the current level of technology, the effect of replacing troops with such systems is not as significant as expected. Even the US military expected a reduction in personnel with the adoption of unmanned strike drones like the "Reaper," but, in reality, more people were needed for operation and management. The view that robots and drones could compensate for troop numbers dropping below 300,000 by 2040 is entirely unrealistic. It will take at least another 10 years for any replacement effect to be felt at a level that the public can perceive.

-Is there a need to secure battlefield data from Ukraine?

▲The KN-23, which North Korea supplied to Russia, is a direct threat to us. In South Korea, we can’t conduct live tests of the Cheongung-II against the KN-23, but by providing support to Ukraine, we could obtain real-world interception data. However, since such data has been obtained at a steep cost of Ukrainian blood, it will not be handed out for free—we will need to provide corresponding support.

-What needs to change to secure more defense AI professionals?

▲Even large defense contractors say that AI talent is continually leaving their companies. It’s not just about money; AI professionals, who are used to working flexibly, find it difficult to endure an overly closed culture where nothing can be done outside the office due to security concerns. Ultimately, decisive support, incentives, and a flexible working environment will require the will of the Minister of National Defense and the top military leadership.

-How have your prior experiences as a journalist helped you as a member of the National Assembly?

▲My catchphrase is "security first." My experience organizing seminars and forums and working in the field as a journalist has carried over directly into my current legislative and policy activities. Even taking a 12-hour evacuation train to enter Ukraine was possible because, as a lawmaker, I still had the mindset of a journalist.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.