North Korea's military aid bolsters Russian forces in Ukraine
The South Korean Ministry of Defense has reported that North Korea has already sent over 200 pieces of long-range artillery and approximately 11,000 troops to Russia as support. Seoul warns that in the coming months, Putin's army fighting against Ukraine may receive further reinforcements from this ally.
According to the Yonhap news agency, which cites the South Korean Ministry of Defense, support from Pyongyang for Moscow to date has included "some 11,000 troops, missiles, 200 long-range artillery pieces and a significant amount of ammunition." A report recently received by the South Korean defence department warned that "there is the possibility of (the North) additionally supplying troops, weapons and ammunition going forward."
This is how North Korea supports Russia
Support provided to Russia by North Korea began in the early months of the war in Ukraine. Initially, it included artillery ammunition in the form of 122 mm and 152 mm caliber shells. This represents significant aid for the Russians, as these shells are used in their most popular artillery systems, such as the 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Giatsint, and 2S19 Msta.
In the context of long-range artillery, the focus should primarily be on the M1989 "Koksan," which has been seen being transported in Russia. These use a 170 mm caliber gun. According to official information, this weapon can hit targets at distances of up to 50 to 60 kilometres, although according to some experts, including Jarosław Wolski, its effectiveness should be questioned.
North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region
North Korean soldiers have been deployed to fight in the Kursk region in western Russia. Although they have sometimes surprised with equipment superior to that of the Russian soldiers, they were not successful in clashes with Ukrainians and suffered heavy losses. The Ukrainian side and the NIS (National Intelligence Service in Seoul) have confirmed that North Korean soldiers did not participate in combat since mid-January, but by early February, they were expected to return.
Reports from Ukraine suggest that aid from North Korea for Russia also included rocket launchers disguised as civilian trucks and KN-23 ballistic missiles, whose effectiveness has noticeably increased in recent weeks. According to Reuters, this is a result of treating Ukraine as a military proving ground and improving weapons based on combat experience.
Seoul closely monitors the situation
Seoul also notes that according to Japanese sources, North Korea plans to start mass production of drones later this year, which are to be developed in cooperation with Russia. At the same time, they continuously monitor whether Moscow, in exchange for the support received, will "transfer advanced military technologies to North Korea."
