North Korean artillery reaches Crimea: A new threat to Ukraine
Russia has begun transferring North Korean artillery systems to annexed Crimea, which could indicate an expansion of Pyongyang's involvement in the war in Ukraine, as reported by "The Moscow Times" via ZDF.
What do you need to know?
- Russia is moving North Korean artillery to Crimea. ZDF reported that on March 26, a video surfaced showing the transportation of North Korean Koksan self-propelled guns through northern Crimea.
- North Korean troops in Russia. So far, they have only been observed in the Kursk region, where Russia conducted a counterattack against Ukrainian forces.
- Threat to Ukrainian cities. Analysts warn that the artillery could be used to shell key cities like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
What are the consequences for Ukraine?
According to ZDF's reports, this might suggest that Pyongyang is intensifying its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Up to now, North Korean troops have only been seen in the Kursk region, where Russia conducted a counterattack against Ukrainian forces. Now, with Ukrainian forces out of Kursk, Russia might quickly transfer the North Korean contingent to Crimea to assault Kyiv's forces in southern Ukraine.
Will North Korean artillery change the course of the war in Ukraine?
North Korean Koksan guns, capable of firing up to 37 miles, pose a significant threat to Ukrainian cities. Military analysts caution that they may be deployed in the Zaporizhzhia region. Previously, in the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces managed to destroy five such guns using drones, but Pyongyang has supplied Russia with up to 200 such systems.
Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has deepened since President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in the summer of 2024. During this visit, a strategic partnership agreement was signed, obligating both countries to mutual defense assistance in case of an attack. Russia received not only troops from North Korea but also large amounts of weaponry.
