DPRK hands over its Koksan artillery systems to Russia
Photo: Russia began to reinforce its artillery (defenseimagery.mil)
The Russian Federation has begun strengthening its artillery, now transporting Koksan self-propelled artillery units (SPGs) from North Korea by rail, according to Defense Express.
According to the agency, a photo emerged on social media showing the transport of at least one M-1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery system, manufactured in North Korea, likely already being moved within Russian territory by rail.
A single image does not yet provide enough information to gauge the scale of a possible transfer of these SPGs to Russian forces. The approximate number of M-1989 Koksan units in North Korea’s arsenal is also unknown.
However, in mid-October, Russian military sources stated that they had begun training with North Korean SPGs of an undisclosed type at the Higher Artillery Command School (VAKU) in Saratov.
This suggests that Russian troops may have already completed initial familiarization with their North Korean counterparts’ artillery systems and may be close to readiness for practical deployment of such weapons.
Koksan specifications
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Range: Up to 40 kilometers with standard ammunition; up to 60 kilometers with rocket-assisted ammunition.
- Rate of Fire: 2 rounds every 5 minutes.
- Caliber: 170 mm (an uncommon caliber for the Russian army).
Previously, The Korea Herald reported that North Korean soldiers would likely receive around $2,000 per month.
At the same time, British intelligence forecasts that Russia’s economic situation will worsen by 2025 due to expected increases in military spending. Additionally, Western sanctions continue to impact the economy.
