A cardboard drone is displayed during the Korea Army International Defense Exhibition at Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province, Oct. 2. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyeon-woo

The South Korean military is moving to procure cardboard drones as part of its efforts to bolster its drone capabilities in response to North Korean threats, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.

The military aims to finalize a contract to acquire around 100 cardboard drones by the end of this year, with deployment planned for the first half of 2025.

“Our ministry and relevant organizations are taking various measures to strengthen our drone capacity. It is an undeniable fact that drones have become game changers in modern warfare, so our military is intensifying efforts in this area,” ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyou said during a briefing.

Jeon declined to elaborate on the specifics of the drones under discussion.

Initially, the cardboard drones will reportedly be deployed for reconnaissance purposes, with plans to consider their use as suicide drones in the future.

Constructed primarily from low-cost, biodegradable materials like cardboard, these drones are considered more cost-effective than traditional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The effectiveness of cardboard drones has been demonstrated in the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to media reports, a fleet of such drones, held together with elastic bands and tape, has caused significant damage to multiple Russian targets.

South Korea has been steadily enhancing its drone capacity. In October, the government agreed to purchase Warmate drones developed by Polish defense company WB Electronics based on their proven effectiveness in the Ukraine war.

The latest move to procure cardboard drones comes amid reports that North Korea has also acquired similar technology.

During the Defense Development Exhibition held in Pyongyang in November, a new drone design displayed by the North Korean military featured characteristics similar to cardboard drones. Military analysts assessed that one of the drones showcased at the event, with wings and a fuselage held together by rubber bands, looked similar to a cardboard suicide drone.