Russia to Receive 150 North Korean Surface-to-Surface Missiles in 2025

North Korea is set to deliver 150 KN-23 ballistic missiles to Russia in 2025, following a previous transfer of 148 missiles used against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

Pyongyang has reportedly supplied Russia with KN-23 ballistic missiles, which Moscow is using in its operations against Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence officials have revealed that 148 of these missiles were transferred in 2024, with an additional 150 expected to follow in 2025.

Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, revealed to The War Zone that North Korea is sending reinforcements to Russia’s Kursk region.

Moscow is launching KN-23 missiles from the Kursk and Bryansk regions, targeting Ukrainian territories. The KN-23 missile, a tactical weapon, is being used despite reports of its low accuracy.

Ukrainian officials have reported that the Russian military, supported by North Korean experts, began using these missiles to strike areas such as Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv. The first known attack occurred on December 29, 2023, with subsequent strikes confirmed in early January 2024.

Budanov's comments provide further details on a report by The New York Times, which cited an anonymous U.S. defense official saying North Korean reinforcements are expected in Kursk within two months. The Ukrainian intelligence chief was unsure of the exact number or arrival time. He stated that about a third of the 12,000 North Koreans sent to Kursk have been killed, leaving around 8,000. This aligns with figures from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, the BBC, citing Western officials, reported 4,000 casualties, including 1,000 killed.

Andrii Cherniak, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, highlighted the dual challenges posed by the KN-23 system. While its accuracy has been described as poor, the missiles still pose a significant threat due to their destructive potential. "The accuracy is not very high, but these missiles still pose a very serious danger," Cherniak stated in an interview with Radio Svoboda.

Ukrainian officials estimate that as of December 2024, Russia had already used around 60 KN-23 missiles against Ukraine.

Ukrainian defense experts examining the debris of KN-23 missiles have uncovered Western-manufactured components within the systems. A significant number of surviving parts, sourced from companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia, have been identified. This discovery raises questions about supply chain vulnerabilities and the flow of critical technologies into sanctioned nations.

Pyongyang's role extends beyond missile supplies, as North Korean military personnel are reportedly aiding Russian forces in operating the systems.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council, has previously voiced concerns over such exchanges, warning of their potential to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.

North Korea has supplied Russia with around 120 Koksan 170mm self-propelled artillery guns and 120 M-1991 240mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) over the past three months, with more expected in the future, according to Budanov. North Korea, with a vast artillery stockpile built for potential use along the DMZ in case of war with South Korea, has also exported millions of artillery rounds to Russia.

The Koksan guns, mounted in an open superstructure, feature a 170mm cannon and can fire up to 25 miles with standard shells and 37 miles with rocket-assisted ones. The M-1991 MLRS, with 22 tubes, can fire various warheads and also has a maximum range of 37 miles. Most of the weapons are used against troops in Ukraine or for training in Russia. Budanov emphasized the power of the 170mm artillery and the heavy impact of the 240mm MLRS on the front lines.