Russian reliance on North Korean artillery highlights shortages
The portal United24 Media, associated with the Ukrainian government, confirmed the destruction of another North Korean self-propelled artillery system. The incident occurred in the Donetsk region, further evidence that the Russians are increasingly using weapons from North Korea beyond the Kursk region. This sends a clear signal to the world that they lack domestic artillery.
This time, the Koksan M-1978 was spotted and effectively attacked in the Pokrovsk area. Drones equipped with FPV (first-person view) were used to target the equipment supplied to Putin's army by Moscow's largest ally, recognized as Pyongyang for months. Several of these unmanned vehicles struck the North Korean artillery hidden among the trees.
M1989 Koksan eliminated in Donetsk region
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, revealed at the beginning of the year that Russia had received about 120 Koksan guns from North Korea, in the Koksan M-1989 and Koksan M-1978 variants. He also warned that similar support might be received in the near future according to estimates.
Weapons from North Korea spread across Ukraine
Initially, artillery from North Korea was used in the Russian Kursk region, where Ukrainians destroyed several units. In recent months, Koksan M-1989 and Koksan M-1978 have increasingly appeared in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russians. Ukrainians have already targeted this type of weapon in regions such as Luhansk and Kharkiv.
"The fact that a North Korean howitzer was found in the Kupiansk area seems to confirm that the heavy weaponry promised by Pyongyang to Moscow not only supports the North Korean 11th Corps in the Kursk region but also aids the Russians in Ukrainian territories," assessed Forbes analyst David Axe in one of his publications.
Jarosław Wolski, a Polish defense analyst, believes that the delivery of such weaponry from North Korea is a clear signal to the world, demonstrating the increasingly poor state of Russian artillery.
The Koksan M-1989 and Koksan M-1978 are self-propelled howitzers utilizing a non-standard caliber of 170 mm. According to official specifications, they provide a range of up to 25 miles with standard shells and up to 37 miles with rocket-assisted shells. Analysts are skeptical, suggesting that in practice, the capabilities of the Koksan M-1989 and Koksan M-1978 are lower, and they also question the technical condition of these weapons.
