North Korea sends more than 100 missiles to Russia, ISW warns of growing threat to Ukraine
North Korea has supplied Russia with more than 100 missiles (photo: Getty Images)
North Korea has transferred more than 100 ballistic missiles and specialized missile units to Russia. According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this will lead to even greater destruction and more civilian casualties in Ukraine.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the deployment of a North Korean missile unit has begun in western Russia. The unit consists of about 90 soldiers equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers.
In addition, North Korea had previously sent Russia a batch of 40 North Korean KN-23/24 ballistic missiles.
ISW noted that Russia's use of North Korean missiles will give North Korea the opportunity to conduct field tests and receive feedback to improve its missiles.
The analysts believe that Russia and North Korea are seeking to take advantage of Ukraine's limited stockpile of ballistic missile interceptor missiles in order to test the performance of North Korean missiles.
At the same time, adding more North Korean missiles to Russia's arsenal will likely allow it to intensify ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine in the near future without relying on its own stockpiles.
North Korean missiles, which carry a larger payload but have lower accuracy, are likely to cause greater destruction and more casualties, especially among civilians.
North Korea deploys a missile unit in Russia
The deployment of a North Korean missile unit has begun in western Russia.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, a unit is being formed in Russia's Voronezh region that may include about 90 North Korean servicemen and six launchers with 120 ballistic missiles.
At the same time, Russia has likely received a new batch of ballistic missiles from North Korea and has begun using them more actively after a break of nearly a year.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian radar systems detected missile signatures consistent with North Korean KN-23 or KN-24 missiles during a strike on the village of Radushne near Kryvyi Rih.
At that time, a North Korean missile struck the home of a large family. A husband and wife and their seven children were killed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the aggressor had joined forces with the "mad" regime in North Korea for the sake of missiles and the killing of Ukrainian children.
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that North Korean missile units in Russia, if deployed, will become legitimate military targets.
