North Korean Howitzers: New threat for Ukrainian defenses
North Korea has delivered hundreds of Koksan self-propelled howitzers to Russia. While this indicates a serious shortage of weapons in the Russian Federation's arsenal, it could also pose a problem for Ukraine, according to military industry expert Denis Popovych.
Facing a shortage of artillery, Russia received hundreds of Koksan self-propelled howitzers from North Korea. According to the Ukrainian agency Unian, these howitzers are unique compared to Russian designs, featuring an unusual 170 mm caliber. As quoted by Unian, military expert Denis Popovych notes that while their fire rate is low, the sheer number of Koksans may present a challenge for Ukraine.
Koksans may pose "certain problems" for Ukrainians
"In terms of rate of fire, it is exceptionally low—a shot per minute or even less. To put it mildly, it is not a rapid-firing weapon," said Popovych. However, the concentration of Koksans could create "certain problems" for Ukraine. Besides the sheer number of these Korean weapons, the expert also points out that their relatively large range, reaching 25 miles, could be an issue.
"The Russians have a shortage of self-propelled howitzers. The depletion of Soviet weapon reserves in warehouses led them to start using towed guns earlier. Now they need the concentration of some self-propelled guns to maintain maneuverability. That's why they are using North Korean guns," explained Popovych.
Threat to Ukrainians at the front
Unian warns that the potential threat from North Korean howitzers cannot be underestimated. Popovych notes that their presence on the front may affect the conflict's dynamics and pose new challenges for Ukraine in defending its positions. The increase in these units may force Ukraine to adjust its defense strategy.
It is noteworthy that, according to data from the South Korean Ministry of Defense, the artillery ammunition supplies that North Korea is directing to Russia are being conducted on a massive scale, comparable to the assistance provided to Ukraine by the entire European Union. Specifically, this refers to artillery shells with 122 mm and 152 mm calibers, which are crucial for the most widespread Russian systems, such as the 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Hyacinth, and 2S19 Msta.
