North Korean Howitzers bolster Russian fronts, challenge Ukraine
North Korea has supplied Russia with hundreds of Koksan self-propelled howitzers. On the one hand, this indicates a severe shortage of weapons in the Russian Federation's arsenal. On the other hand, according to a military industry expert, Denis Popovich, the Korean equipment may pose a problem for Ukraine.
Russia, grappling with a shortage of artillery, has received hundreds of Koksan self-propelled howitzers from North Korea. According to the Ukrainian agency Unian, these are distinct from Russian designs due to their unusual calibre of 170 mm. The military expert Denis Popovich, quoted by Unian, notes that although their rate of fire is low, the number of Koksans may present a problem for Ukraine.
Koksans may cause "some problems" for Ukrainians
"When it comes to rate of fire, it is exceptionally low—one shot per minute or even less. To put it mildly, it's not a rapid-fire weapon," stated Popovich. However, the concentration of Koksans may create "some problems" for Ukraine. Apart from the sheer number of these Korean weapons, the expert also highlights their relatively large range, which reaches about 40 kilometres, as a potential issue.
"The Russians have a shortage of self-propelled howitzers. The depletion of Soviet weapon stockpiles in warehouses has led them to start using towed guns earlier. Now they need to concentrate some self-propelled guns to have manoeuvrability. That's why they use North Korean guns," Popovich explained.
Threat to Ukrainians at the front
Unian warns that the potential threat from North Korean howitzers cannot be underestimated. Popovich notes that their presence on the front could affect the conflict's dynamics, presenting Ukraine with new challenges in defending its positions. The increase in such units may force Ukraine to adapt its defence strategy.
Let us recall that according to data released by the South Korean Ministry of Defence, the scale of artillery ammunition supplies from North Korea to Russia is enormous, comparable to the assistance given to Ukraine by the entire European Union. Specifically, it refers to artillery shells of 122 mm and 152 mm calibres, which are crucial for the most widespread Russian systems, such as the 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Giatsint and 2S19 Msta.
