North Korea's artillery and troops bolster Russian forces
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, the troops of Putin's army fighting against Ukraine may receive further reinforcements from their ally.
According to the Yonhap news agency, citing 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." The South Korean defense department recently received a report 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 mainly included artillery ammunition in the form of 4.8-inch and 6-inch caliber shells. This aid is significant for the Russians, as such 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 have been systematically observed being transported in Russia. These utilize a 6.7-inch caliber gun. Official information states this weapon can hit targets at distances of approximately 31-37 miles, 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 often been equipped with superior gear compared to Russian soldiers, they have not been successful in clashes with Ukrainians and suffered heavy losses. The Ukrainian side and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in Seoul confirmed that North Korean soldiers had not participated in combat since mid-January, but around the beginning of February, they were expected to return.
Reports from Ukraine suggest that aid from North Korea to 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 will be developed in cooperation with Russia. At the same time, they are continuously monitoring whether Moscow will "transfer advanced military technologies to North Korea in return for this support."
