North Korea's unreliable ballistic missiles fall short in Ukraine conflict
North Korea is extending its support to Russia beyond merely supplying artillery ammunition. The prosecutor's office in Kyiv has determined that throughout the ongoing conflict, the Russians have deployed at least 50 ballistic missiles manufactured in North Korea. However, many of these did not reach their intended destinations.
Pyongyang has been providing Moscow with artillery shells of 6-inch and 5-inch calibres for some time. Since early 2024, there have also been reports of attacks using ballistic missiles produced by North Korea. Analysis of the wreckage identified these as KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles.
Ballistic missiles from North Korea in Ukraine
The KN-23 ballistic missiles are 7.5 meters long and 0.9 meters in diameter. They weigh about 3,400 kg, with around 500 kg designated for the warheads. They can hit targets up to about 600 kilometres away. The KN-24 ballistic missiles, though slightly smaller, offer a comparable range.
Despite being powerful weapons, these missiles often prove to be unreliable. Military experts have previously pointed out that North Korean armaments are outdated and notoriously imprecise. The performance of the aforementioned ballistic missiles has further verified this. According to the prosecutor's office in Kyiv, nearly half exploded mid-air and failed to hit their targets. In February of this year, a KN-23 ballistic missile landed in a forest in the Kyiv region, missing its intended target.
Nonetheless, this assistance remains crucial for the Russians. They are focusing on quantity over quality. A significant number of the missiles sourced from North Korea do hit their targets. With Pyongyang's support, Russia can launch a considerably greater number of attacks compared to the Ukrainians, who are facing severe ammunition shortages.
It's important to note Russian soldiers' dissatisfaction with North Korean ammunition. Examination of 6-inch calibre artillery shells revealed inconsistencies despite identical markings. For instance, shells from the same batch were found to have used different types of gunpowder. Also, signs of tampering were found on some of the shell casings, which were meant to be sealed.
