Recent reports from South Korea's spy agency reveal that North Korea has provided additional artillery systems to Russia to support its ongoing war efforts against Ukraine. The National Intelligence Service stated that North Korea exported 170mm self-propelled guns and 240mm multiple rocket launch systems to Russia, weapons that the Russian military does not typically operate. It is believed that North Korean personnel have been dispatched to Russia to train Russian forces on how to use and maintain these artillery systems.
Photos circulating on social media show North Korean 'Koksan' 170mm self-propelled guns being transported by rail within Russia. Ukrainian intelligence assessments suggest that North Korea has sent around 50 self-propelled howitzers and 20 multiple launch rocket systems to Russia in recent weeks. This exchange of conventional weapons is part of the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia amid their respective conflicts with the U.S. and its allies.
Furthermore, approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Russia's Kursk region in late October after receiving training in Russia's northeast. These troops have reportedly joined Russia's marine and airborne forces units and are actively participating in combat alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. The involvement of North Korean soldiers in the conflict has raised concerns about the escalation of the almost 3-year war.
Recent developments indicate that Ukraine may have used U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia's Bryansk region. While Moscow confirmed the missile strikes, Ukraine's General Staff did not verify the use of the weapon but acknowledged targeting an ammunition warehouse in the Bryansk region. Ukrainian leaders have been advocating for the use of advanced weapons to target key locations within Russia since the early stages of the war.
The situation remains fluid as North Korea's support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict continues to evolve, potentially impacting the dynamics of the ongoing war. International observers are closely monitoring the developments and assessing the implications of these strategic alliances on the broader geopolitical landscape.
