Russia made North Korean KN-23 missiles more precise - Ukraine's spy chief says
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
North Korea, with the help of Russia, has significantly improved its KN-23 ballistic missiles, which are now capable of striking with "deadly accuracy," says Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Defense Intelligence (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in an interview with The War Zone (TWZ).
The first batch of KN-23 missiles transferred by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Russia was of poor quality. According to a report by the Ukrainian prosecutor's office, about half of them deviated from their trajectory and sometimes exploded mid-air.
"Since then, they (KN-23 missiles - Ed.) have been dramatically improved thanks to Russian help, Budanov told us, now striking with deadly accuracy. This has given Russia a badly needed source of SRBMs (short-range ballistic missiles - Ed.)," writes TWZ.
North Korea's assistance to Russia
North Korea actively supports Russia in the war against Ukraine by supplying ammunition, artillery shells, and missiles. This assistance largely compensates for Russia's losses at the front and enables it to maintain a high rate of attacks.
In particular, North Korea has supplied KN-23 ballistic missiles. After launch and upon reaching an altitude of around 50 kilometers, these missiles follow a quasi-ballistic trajectory. Their specifications include:
- Length: 7.5 meters;
- Diameter: 0.95 meters;
- Weight: 3.415 tons;
- Range: 690 kilometers.
Budanov had already warned about the enemy's improvements to the KN-23 at the beginning of the year.
