Saetbyol-4
North Korea's surveillance drone resembling the RQ-4 Global Hawk.
The Saetbyol-4 is an unmanned aerial vehicle built for the Korean People's Army Air Force. It marks North Korea’s first step into expanding its drone fleet and developing domestic artificial intelligence, and it looks similar to the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk.
Kim Jong Un first called for the drone’s development in 2021 during the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, where he highlighted the country’s nuclear achievements since 2017, including the Pukguksong-1 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missiles. In that speech, he pushed for expanding the Korean People's Army’s arsenal with electronic weapons and UAVs, aiming for targets 15,000 kilometers away and drones with a 500-kilometer range. This was seen as a move to raise tensions with the United States and South Korea, mirroring China’s wolf warrior diplomacy.
On 27 July 2023, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed the first drones at the "Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023" in Pyongyang, two and a half years after the initial announcement. Kim and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu examined the drones, which sat alongside the Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18. Each drone bore the words “DPRK Air Force” and looked like the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. The first possible sighting came from satellite photos taken by Planet Labs on 14 June 2023 at Panghyon Airport.
In 2025, satellite imagery and videos of kamikaze drone use showed testing and explosions at Panghyon Airbase, leaving craters. Kim visited Kusong on 8 September 2025 to inspect the tests. On 19 September 2025, Kim and Chief Advisor on Munitions Policy Ri Pyong-chol oversaw further testing at the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex. There, Kim repeated his goal of integrating AI into the military, a move analysts linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and an effort to update the Air Force’s aging fleet.
The Saetbyol-4 looks like the RQ-4 and MQ-9 but uses domestic and Chinese electronics. Observers noted its front and main landing gear (oriented in reverse) and chassis come from the Chengdu J-7, a variant of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. It is thought that North Korea’s stock of 130 J-7/MiG-21s was converted for this project. Retrofitting old landing gear onto a new model suggests an early prototype, not a mass-production design.
Quick Facts
- Other names
- 샛별-4, Morning Star-4
- Aircraft role
- Surveillance Aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
- Country of origin
- North Korea
- Manufacturers
- Korean People's Army Air Force
- First flight
- 18 September 2025
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of the Saetbyol-4 began in 2021 when Kim Jong Un, during the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, called for expanding the Korean People's Army's arsenal with UAVs capable of reaching targets 15,000 km away and drones with a 500 km range. The first drones were unveiled on 27 July 2023 at the 'Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023' in Pyongyang, where Kim Jong Un and Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu examined them alongside the Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18. An alleged sighting was reported on 14 June 2023 at Panghyon Airport via satellite photos.
The Saetbyol-4 maintains a resemblance to the RQ-4 Global Hawk and General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. Its front and main landing gear, oriented in reverse, and chassis derive from the Chengdu J-7, a spinoff of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, suggesting conversion of North Korea's stock of 130 J-7/MiG-21 aircraft. The drone is equipped with a satellite antenna for long-distance control and is believed to be composed of domestic and Chinese electronics. Lacking advanced components of the RQ-4, it is thought to be primarily used for surveillance, air defense training, or as a relay drone. By early 2026, its wingspan had grown to ~40 meters and length to ~14.25 meters, comparable to the RQ-4B Block 30/40.
Reader's Guide
The Saetbyol-4 represents a significant step in North Korea's efforts to modernize its military with unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, a development seen as influenced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its resemblance to the RQ-4 Global Hawk is considered superficial by analysts abroad, with Asan Institute for Policy Studies fellow Yang Uk stating that the drone's development is largely a political achievement for the Kim regime. The program has been monitored by South Korea's Ministry of Unification. Testing and explosions were detected at Panghyon Airbase throughout 2025, and Kim's visit to Kusong on 8 September 2025 indicated increased interest. Further testing overseen by Kim and Chief Advisor on Munitions Policy Ri Pyong-chol occurred on 19 September 2025 at the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex, where Kim reiterated his objective of integrating AI into the military. The Saetbyol-4 is part of a broader push that includes the Saetbyol-9 attack drone variant.
Did You Know?
- It underwent flight tests on 18 September 2025.
- The drone is believed to weigh less than 9 tons, compared to the RQ-4's 14.6 tons.
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