Over the past year, various reports have highlighted an increase in the provision of North Korean ammunition and equipment to support Russia’s war effort. These reports mention the transfer of munitions of various calibers, artillery, and ballistic missiles deployed by the Russian Armed Forces in the theater of operations. Based on a series of images circulated on social media, it has been observed that Pyongyang has taken a new step in supporting Moscow by supplying self-propelled artillery systems to the Russian Ground Forces. Specifically, shipments consisting of 170 mm M-1978/1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers have been detected.
As demonstrated during the conflict, Russian channels have reported the delivery of new North Korean tracked self-propelled howitzers to bolster Russia’s war effort. In particular, a Russian channel released images of a train shipment composed of a batch of North Korean M-1978/1989 Koksan artillery systems, though the exact number of units was not specified.
As these images went viral on social media, open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources used geolocation tools to confirm that the North Korean howitzers transported by train were traveling through central Russia, likely along the railway network passing through the city of Krasnoyarsk.
The confirmation of this type of equipment being supplied to Russia by North Korea underscores the strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Before this development, recent reports indicated the deployment of North Korean troops to Russian territory for training, after which they were expected to be deployed to Ukraine. This is in addition to the ongoing provision of artillery ammunition and various types of ballistic missiles used by the Russian Armed Forces against targets in Ukrainian territory.
Regarding the M-1978/1989, known as the Koksan, it is a long-range artillery system developed by North Korea. It utilizes a heavily modified chassis based on the Type 59 tank (a Chinese version of the Soviet T-54A tank). With a 170 mm caliber, it can strike targets located between 40 and 60 kilometers away, depending on the type of projectile used.
The lack of further details, such as the number of units transferred by North Korea, leaves some questions unanswered while providing certain insights. Firstly, it is unclear whether this is a limited transfer or the first shipment in a series intended for the Russian Ground Forces. Secondly, from a logistical perspective, the Koksan uses a caliber that is not commonly employed by Russian forces, whose self-propelled and towed artillery systems typically use 152 mm and 203 mm calibers. This implies the need to establish a new supply chain specifically for this model.
Nevertheless, the Kremlin’s decision to incorporate these systems into its Armed Forces could be inferred as a reflection of the growing importance of this ally in its war effort. The rationale may lie in the need to replace some of its long-range artillery systems, such as the 203 mm 2S7 “Pion” and 2S7M “Malka,” of which more than thirty units have reportedly been lost, not counting those removed from the battlefield for repairs and maintenance due to extensive wear and usage during the conflict.
Lastly, considerations must include training Russian troops to operate these systems and familiarize themselves with the platform. Additionally, in the event of deployment in Ukraine, large, long-range artillery systems are vulnerable to counter-battery fire and unmanned aerial vehicles, given the presence of advanced detection technologies such as radars and satellites, among others.
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