Ukraine takes out North Korean cannon aiding Russian forces
Ukrainians report the destruction of a self-propelled M1989 "Koksan" 170 mm cannon, equipment provided to Russia by North Korea. A recording showing the moment a Ukrainian drone hit the North Korean artillery has even been released online. The incident reportedly took place in the Kursk region. Here's a reminder of what the M1989 "Koksan" is.
According to available information, the M1989 "Koksan" was destroyed during transport, with no crew on board. The attack was carried out by a Ukrainian FPV (First Person View) drone, converted into a kamikaze drone.
North Korea supports Russia
Russia, struggling with a shortage of heavy artillery, received a significant number of M1989 "Koksan" self-propelled guns from North Korea. According to various sources, the number of units delivered ranges from about 50 to even 120. These systems were deployed in the Kursk region, among others, to support the operations of Russian armed forces.
The M1989 "Koksan" is a North Korean self-propelled gun-howitzer with a 170 mm calibre, developed as an advancement of the earlier M1978 model. Designed for targeting at long distances, it stands out with its unique calibre, which is not standard in Russian, Chinese, or Western armies.
The M1989 "Koksan" cannon reaches a range of up to 40 kilometres using standard ammunition, and with the use of Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) shells, it can achieve a range of about 60 kilometres—according to some sources, even over 70 kilometres in the test version. These are typical RAP shells, whose construction increases range at the expense of warhead weight and accuracy.
However, the system's rate of fire is limited, at about 1–2 rounds per 5 minutes, due to the manual loading process of heavy shells. The cannon is mounted on a T-54/T-55 tank chassis or a Chinese Type 59, equipped with a 520 horsepower diesel engine, allowing a speed of up to 40 km/h and an operational range of about 300 kilometres.
The introduction of the M1989 "Koksan" into the Russian arsenal highlights the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and indicates Russia's need to replenish its artillery resources in light of the ongoing conflict, which according to the Kremlin's initial assumptions, was supposed to last only a few days.
