North Korea's pivotal role: Fueling Russia's war arsenal
According to Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, North Korea supplies Russia with up to 50% of the ammunition used in the conflict against Ukraine, reports the United24 Media portal.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, revealed that North Korea provides Russia with about half of the ammunition used in the war with Ukraine. During the "Ukraine: Year 2025" forum, he emphasised that cooperation with Pyongyang is crucial for Russian military operations.
Russia increases production but owes much to North Korea
Budanov noted that despite the increase in domestic ammunition production, Russia still relies on supplies from North Korea. "We cannot fail to mention their strategic ally, North Korea, which covers 50% of all ammunition used on the front," Budanov said.
Weapon deliveries and military losses
United24 Media reminds us that North Korea is conducting large-scale arms deliveries to Russia, including 170 mm self-propelled howitzers and 240 mm rocket systems. Budanov also reported plans to deliver approximately 150 more KN-23 ballistic missiles this year. He added that North Korean soldiers have already suffered losses in the Kursk region but continue to fight there against Ukrainians.
Budanov noted that although Russia is increasing the production of ammunition and drone technology, the production pace of key weapon systems remains unchanged or is declining. "In the case of major weapon systems, the production pace remained the same as last year or slightly decreased," he explained.
Korean weapons in Russia
To clarify, one of the pieces of equipment transferred to Russia by North Korea is the M-1978 Koksan. They are characterised primarily by a 170 mm gun, which allows for a significant range of fire. For high-explosive shells, it's about 43 kilometres, but thanks to the use of special ammunition, this distance can increase to up to about 60 kilometres. This system has a firing rate of two shots every five minutes, and its operation requires the coordinated work of an eight-member crew.
It's also worth mentioning that the KN-23 missiles, which are solid-fuel ballistic missiles, are often compared to Russian Iskanders due to their similar dimensions, although they have a greater range of up to 650 kilometres. The Russian army uses the KN-23 exclusively in versions with conventional warheads. According to attacks so far on Ukrainian positions, these missiles have shown significant effectiveness in striking targets.
