North Korea's Missiles for Russia: Quantity Over Quality in Ukraine Conflict
North Korea is now supporting Russia with more than just artillery ammunition. The prosecutor's office in Kyiv estimated that during the ongoing war, the Russians used at least 50 ballistic missiles of North Korean production. However, it turns out that many of them did not hit the intended targets.
For a long time, Pyongyang has been supplying Moscow with artillery shells of both 152 mm and 122 mm calibre. Since the beginning of 2024, attacks using North Korean-produced ballistic missiles have also been recorded. After analysing the debris, it was concluded that these were KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles.
Ballistic missiles from North Korea in Ukraine
The KN-23 ballistic missiles are 7.5 metres long and 0.9 metres in diameter. They weigh approximately 3,400 kg, of which about 500 kg are for the warheads. They can attack targets up to 600 kilometres away. The KN-24 ballistic missiles are somewhat smaller but have a similar range.
This is a dangerous weapon, but it often proves unreliable in practice. Military experts and analysts had previously emphasised that North Korean weaponry is outdated and often very imprecise. The use of the mentioned ballistic missiles also confirms this. As announced by the prosecutor's office in Kyiv, nearly half exploded in the air and did not reach their target. In February of this year, one of the KN-23 ballistic missiles fell in a forest in the Kyiv region, although its target was probably different.
For the Russians, however, this is still a significant help. They are betting on quantity, not quality. Many of the missiles they receive from North Korea do reach their intended targets. With support from Pyongyang, they can carry out significantly more attacks than the Ukrainians, who are struggling with large ammunition shortages.
It's worth noting that Russian soldiers had previously complained about North Korean ammunition. Examination of 152 mm calibre artillery shells revealed that despite having the same markings, the ammunition is not identical. Shells from the same batch use different gunpowders, for example. Moreover, some shells showed signs of tampering with the covers, which should have been sealed.
