Where did Russia get North Korea's missiles?

2024-01-06 09:13:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Where did Russia get North Korea's missiles?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the launch of a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile

Recently, Russia has attacked Ukraine with several North Korean-made ballistic missiles, according to a January 4 statement from the US White House. This is the first time that North Korea's newest weapons have been used on a battlefield, writes Reuters .

Here's what is known so far about the rockets and where they came from:

While the White House did not specifically specify what type of missiles Penian had sent to Russia, Kirby said they have a range of about 900 kilometers and released a graphic that appeared to show KN-23 and KN-25 ballistic missiles with a range of short action.

Joost Oliemans, a Dutch researcher and expert on North Korea's military, said that the images published by the Ukrainians on social networks clearly show fragments that are characteristic of North Korea's Hwasong-11 type of missiles, which also include the KN-23 types. and KN-24.

The KN-23 missile was first tested in May 2019 and is intended to evade air defense missile defense systems by flying in a lower trajectory, experts say.

North Korea has tested its launch in a variety of ways, including wheeled launchers, train cars and submerged submarines.

"Despite external characteristics and what some may say on the matter, this missile family does not appear to be intrinsically related to the Russian Iskander 9K720, but is an indigenous North Korean development," Oliemans said.

The KN-24, which is also powered by solid fuel, was first tested in 2019 and appears to be already being mass-produced and deployed across military units.

The KN-24 missile resembles the US Army's MGM-140 Tactical Missile System and, like the KN-23, is designed to evade missile defenses by flying in a flatter trajectory than traditional ballistic missiles.

Because the North Koreans may have configured their launchers based on their extensive experience with older Soviet equipment, it may not take long for Russian crews to learn to operate the systems imported from North Korea, he said. Ankit Panda, from the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"North Korean technical advisers may be present in Russia to advise [the military] on the use of these systems," he said.

North Korea has been under a United Nations-imposed arms embargo since it first tested a nuclear bomb in 2006. UN Security Council resolutions – passed with Russian support – prohibit other countries from trade arms or other military equipment with North Korea.

In November, South Korean authorities said North Korea may have supplied Russia with ballistic missiles as part of a larger arms deal that also included anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, artillery shells, mortars and rifles.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have previously denied reaching any arms deal, but last year pledged to deepen military ties.

Since August, the port of Rason on North Korea's northeastern coast has seen visits by Russian ships linked to Russia's military logistics system, according to US and South Korean officials and reports by Western researchers citing satellite images.

By November, North Korea had sent about 2,000 shipping containers from Rason suspected of carrying weapons, potentially including ballistic missiles, South Korea said.

The KN-24 missile is believed to have been assembled at a Sinhung weapons factory that was visited by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in August, Oliemans said.

"The specimens photographed at that time may have been sent to Russia only a few months later," he said.

The North Korean leader has called for the defense industry to increase its production to respond to "US threats", but has not mentioned the supply of arms to Russia.

"Preparations for war provide a nationalistic shield to revive the military industry, replenish supposedly depleted stocks, and potentially continue to provide Russia with additional reserves going forward," said Jenny Town, director of the 38 Program. North of the Stimson Center, which studies North Korea.

What does North Korea gain from the deal?

Kirby said U.S. intelligence suggests that in exchange for missiles and other weaponry, North Korea is seeking military assistance from Russia for assets such as fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials, and technology. other advanced.

Some experts have questioned whether Moscow would be willing to give Pyongyang sensitive military technology, but point out that there are a wide range of areas where the two politically and economically isolated neighbors could cooperate.

"There are several things that Russia and North Korea have discussed as part of deepening their relationship: from increasing trade, to creating joint agricultural zones, to updating North Korea's aging air force, to cooperation for satellites," Town said.

North Korea would benefit from any data on the battlefield performance of its missiles, but it is unclear whether Russia will share this data with North Korea, Panda said.

"The most valuable data would be those related to the performance of these missiles against Ukrainian air defense systems, including those supplied by NATO," he said.