North Korean artillery bolsters Russian efforts in Crimea
Russia has begun transferring North Korean artillery systems to annexed Crimea, which may indicate an expansion of Pyongyang's involvement in the war in Ukraine, reports the "Moscow Times" via ZDF.
What you need to know
- Russia is moving North Korean artillery to Crimea. ZDF reported that on March 26, a video surfaced showing the transport of North Korean Koksan self-propelled guns through northern Crimea.
- North Korean troops in Russia. So far, they have only been observed in the Kursk region, where Russia launched a counterattack against Ukrainian forces.
- Threat to Ukrainian cities. Analysts warn that the artillery could be used to shell key cities such as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
What are the consequences for Ukraine?
According to ZDF's reports, this could indicate that Pyongyang is increasing its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Until now, North Korean troops have only been seen in the Kursk region, where Russia launched a counterattack against Ukrainian forces. Now, with Ukrainian forces pushed out of Kursk, Russia may quickly transfer the North Korean contingent to Crimea to target Kyiv's forces in southern Ukraine.
Will North Korean artillery change the course of the war in Ukraine?
North Korean Koksan guns, which can fire up to 60 kilometres, pose a serious threat to Ukrainian cities. Military analysts warn that they may be deployed in the Zaporizhzhia region. Previously, in the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces managed to destroy five such guns using drones, but Pyongyang has supplied Russia with as many as 200 such systems.
Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has deepened since President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in the summer of 2023. During this visit, a strategic partnership agreement was signed, obligating both countries to mutual defence assistance in the event of an attack. Russia received not only soldiers from North Korea but also large quantities of weaponry.
