Russia Uses North Korean Missiles in Ukraine Strikes
Russia has used more North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine this year. Ukrainian military officials and records show that about a third of Russia’s 2024 attacks involved these missiles.
The missiles were made with parts from Western countries, despite international sanctions. This shows a close relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang. North Korea also sent soldiers to Russia, with around 11,000 reportedly deployed to the Kursk region.
In 2024, Russia launched about 60 North Korean KN-23 missiles against Ukraine. These attacks happened mainly in August and September. Ukrainian officials said the KN-23 was a big threat during that time.
“A lot of our strikes now are with ballistic missiles and attack drones,” said Yuriy Ihnat, acting head of communications for Ukraine’s Air Force.
Ukrainian investigators found evidence that Western companies made key parts of the KN-23 missiles. These parts came from the US, Netherlands, UK, and other countries.
The only Korean part in the missile is its metal casing, which corrodes quickly. The rest of the electronics are made in the West.
Missile strikes with North Korean weapons have killed at least 28 people and injured 213 in Ukraine this year. Ukrainian officials said investigating these missiles was difficult due to the damage.
“We can still identify most components as Western-made,” said a Ukrainian defense intelligence official.
The exact route by which parts reach North Korea is unclear, but evidence suggests China is the primary conduit for these components.
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