North Korea's heavy arms bolster russian artillery lines
In Russia, near the town of Tyumen, a rail shipment of heavy equipment from North Korea was spotted, including M-1989 "Koksan" howitzers and launchers with ballistic missiles. This is part of what Kim Jong Un's regime supplies to Russia.
The DPRK continues to support Russia with weapon supplies. In addition to ammunition, tank parts from the T-62 family, and light weapons, North Korea is also supplying M-1989 "Koksan" howitzers and Pukguksong-2 ballistic missiles.
Importing howitzers from Korea is crucial for Russia because their stockpiles and production capabilities for artillery barrels are insufficient. In contrast, the DPRK possesses artillery equipment like the M-1989 "Koksan" howitzers, capable of hitting targets at a distance of 25-37 miles. This range is comparable to that offered by modern 155 mm systems provided to Ukraine by the West, such as the German PzH-2000 or the Polish Krabs.
M-1989 "Koksan" - large range and impact, but mediocre accuracy
Conceptually, this weapon is similar to the 2S7 Pion howitzers. However, in the case of the Koksan, the Koreans chose a 170 mm caliber gun with a length of about 36 feet. This gun is mounted on a chassis from a locally modified T-54/55 family tank, creating a 40-ton howitzer with immense firepower.
It fires shells weighing approximately 130-220 pounds up to a distance of about 25 miles, or 130 pounds in variants with a rocket booster. Accuracy is likely not this weapon's strong suit, but a shell containing several dozen pounds of TNT can cause significant damage wherever it lands. These guns were initially intended as inexpensive weapons to shell Seoul from positions dug into the rocks.
The rate of fire for this weapon is estimated at 1-2 rounds every 5 minutes, and the crew consists of six soldiers. It is a completely outdated weapon, but with a relatively high rate of fire, it can still be effective. The Russians have no choice, and the Koksan is better than nothing.
