Ukrainian drones take out rare North Korean MLRS at front

"North Korean exotic hardware didn’t survive the reality of the front. The Type-75 MLRS rolled into position ready to fire, but the pilots of the 1st Presidential Brigade Burevii struck first. A swift strike, and the result was as expected: another rarity destroyed near Kupiansk. We are keeping up the pace!" the statement reads.

What is the Type-75?

The 107mm Type-75 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is a North Korean copy of the Chinese Type 63 system, which itself is based on the Soviet BM-14. Developed in the 1960s, the system is considered quite outdated. The Type-75 is designed solely for infantry support, as indicated by its limited firing range of 9–11 kilometers.

Ammunition for the Type-75 first appeared in April 2025, when Russia’s 51st GRAU arsenal near the town of Kirzhach in the Moscow region was destroyed. Photos and videos from the scene showed large quantities of debris and unexploded rockets from this system. By June, the first Type-75 units were spotted at Russian training grounds.

North Korea’s support for Russia

North Korea has been actively supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine. For example, North Korea currently supplies around 40% of the ammunition used by Russian forces in the full-scale invasion. In addition, Pyongyang plans to send up to 30,000 soldiers to the war in Ukraine in the coming months.

Last fall, North Korean troops were first engaged in combat against Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region. According to intelligence estimates, North Korea has deployed no fewer than 10,000 troops to the war.

South Korean intelligence reports that Pyongyang has lost at least 4,700 soldiers, as North Korean units were unprepared for modern warfare. Russia officially acknowledged the involvement of North Korean forces only in April 2025.