Russian artillery struggles as North Korea steps in with Koksan howitzers
Photos have surfaced on social media confirming that the Russian army fighting in Ukraine is using North Korean M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers. While some experts see this as a clear signal highlighting the decline of Russian artillery, for Ukrainians, it could mean additional challenges.
At the end of 2024, pictures began circulating showing transport of this type of North Korean self-propelled howitzers in Russia. This was perceived as another form of support from Pyongyang to Moscow. A few weeks later, the equipment appeared on the front lines in Ukraine.
M1989 Koksan in Russian service
The M1989 Koksan is North Korea's most powerful self-propelled field gun, equipped with a 170 mm caliber gun and a barrel length of 50 calibers.
According to publicly available data, this allows it to strike targets at a distance of up to 25 miles, or even 37 miles with special ammunition. This range is significantly greater than that of the post-Soviet 122 mm and 152 mm artillery, which Russian units in Ukraine primarily rely on.
The quality of North Korean weapons sometimes raises doubts
However, the M1989 Koksan is among those North Korean weapons that experts have the most doubts about concerning quality and actual capabilities, mainly due to its age and the unusual shells it requires. Consequently, Russians wishing to continue using the M1989 Koksan become entirely dependent on supplies from North Korea.
"A very unusual caliber, a very unusual location - the Russians are having a hard time with artillery after two years of war," wrote defense analyst Jarosław Wolski on his profile on X, commenting on the photos of the M1989 Koksan transports.
Nonetheless, some experts argue that any reinforcements from North Korea are valuable to the Russians and pose a danger to the Ukrainians. They contend that even if parts of the shells or rockets are flawed, the rest will still hit their targets. In the case of the M1989 Koksan, the crucial point is that it constitutes artillery, which has proven to be the most important weapon in the war in Ukraine, offering long-term value over many more modern pieces of equipment.
The head of Ukrainian intelligence, Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, revealed in January that Russia might have already received about 120 M1989 "Koksan" artillery systems. This year's deliveries could reach similar levels.
