North Korea boosts russian arsenal with advanced missiles
According to analysts from the Ukrainian portal Defense Express, the Russian Federation Army may acquire new weapons from North Korea. They point to the transport of mysterious weapons spotted in Russia's Tyumen region, suggesting that Pukguksong-2 missiles, with a range of at least 1,200 kilometers, might be heading there by rail.
North Korea continues to deliver arms to Russia. According to Defense Express, the transferred equipment might include Pukguksong-2 ballistic missiles, also known as KN-15. These missiles have a range of at least 1,200 kilometres.
Further support for Russia from North Korea
The Ukrainian portal highlights a recently published video showing a shipment of military equipment from North Korea destined for the Russian army. Among the transported weapons are primarily M-1989 "Koksan" self-propelled howitzers, another type of support seen heading that way recently. The footage also shows mysterious missiles. Analysts identify several Pukguksong-2 missiles in the Tyumen region, where the footage originates.
Korean KN-15 missiles
The Pukguksong-2 rockets are a land-based version of the Pukguksong-1 missiles (designed for launching from submarines). This ammunition is relatively new, as the development of these missiles likely began before 2014. The first successful tests took place in 2017 when the missile reached a range of 500 kilometres and an altitude of 550 kilometres.
Pukguksong-2, or KN-15, are two-stage solid-fuel missiles approximately 9 metres long and 1.5 metres in diameter. They are prepared to carry nuclear warheads and, according to military analysts, are more stable, efficient, and harder to detect than previously developed missiles in North Korea.
The KN-15 is a missile that uses a so-called cold launch system, utilizing compressed gas to launch the missile. The engine ignites only during the missile's flight. The construction of this Korean design somewhat resembles the American LGM-118 Peacekeeper, specifically the missile's launch block equipped with a kind of "bearings" that assist the launch. The operational range of the KN-15 is estimated at a minimum of 1,200 kilometres.
