Russia could have received DPRK ballistic missiles flying over 1,000 km
The missile transfer may have a purely pragmatic meaning for Pyongyang (photo: Getty Images)
North Korea continues to supply its weapons to Russia. The transfer may include another medium-range ballistic missile, reports Defense Express.
Recently, a video was posted online showing another echelon of weapons and military equipment from the DPRK. The footage was allegedly shot in the Tyumen region, and this material attracts attention for two reasons.
First, the video shows at least 10 self-propelled 170-mm artillery systems M1989 Koksan. Moreover, this is the second echelon with such systems spotted on the territory of Russia in recent days.
Secondly, in addition to the Koksan systems, five pieces of equipment can be seen in the frame, which are probably launchers for Pukguksong-2 medium-range ballistic missiles, also known as Polar Star or KN-15 in the American classification.
Per my source this was shot in the Tyumen region. Shows both 10 Koksans and 4 Pukguksong-2 SRBMs. Given that 12 were seen in a prior video this COULD be a separate shipment. pic.twitter.com/LiZJXBENTJ
— KPAWeaponsTracker (@KPAWeapons) December 21, 2024
The newspaper notes that until clearer footage is available, it is not yet possible to say for certain that this is the missile. However, there is a high probability that North Korea and Russia have an agreement to strengthen the Russian troops with more and different types of weapons.
What is known about the Pukguksong-2 (KN-15)
Like most of North Korea's weapons, the Pukguksong-2 (KN-15) ballistic missile was developed in strict secrecy. Because of this, the exact tactical and technical characteristics remain conditional, especially with regard to its range.
Open sources indicate that the missile's operating range can be between 1200 and 1300 km. Some sources suggest the possibility of reaching a distance of more than 2000 km, and some reports even indicate a range of more than 3000 km. However, such figures look doubtful and are most likely an exaggeration with a propaganda bias.
A missile test in the DPRK. Photo: Rodong Sinmun
The Pukguksong-2 is a land-based modification of the Pukguksong-1 missile designed to be launched from submarines. According to unofficial reports, the development of this missile could have begun before 2014, although the exact timeline for completion remains unknown.
The first tests of the Pukguksong-2 were probably conducted in 2016, but they were unsuccessful and were not officially recognized by the DPRK authorities. Instead, in February 2017, North Korea conducted a successful launch, during which the missile flew about 500 km and reached a maximum altitude of 550 km. These tests were covered by the North Korean media, which officially confirmed that it was a Pukguksong-2. However, the DPRK intelligence first considered testing other missiles, such as Nodong or Musudan.
In the same year, another missile was launched with a similar range and altitude. After that, North Korea announced its readiness to start mass production of this missile. Already in 2019, there was confirmation of the deployment of these missiles at the DPRK's missile bases.
If the DPRK has indeed handed over its Pukguksong-2 to Russia, such a step may have a purely pragmatic meaning for Pyongyang. It could be an attempt to test the effectiveness of its missile systems in real combat conditions. This interest may be caused by the fact that the existing North Korean weapons already used by Russia, in particular the KN-23 missiles, demonstrate low efficiency and are mostly used as weapons of terror, not to solve tactical or strategic problems.
A few days ago, The New York Times reported that the DPRK may have earned up to $5.5 billion from arms deals with Russia. In addition, North Korea can receive up to $572 million a year by deploying its troops in Russia.
