North Korea augments Russian arsenal amidst missile exchanges
Admiral Samuel Paparo, the commander of US forces in the Indo-Pacific, has reported an increase in military support from North Korea to Russia. Paparo stated that Pyongyang has sent Russia large quantities of weaponry, including thousands — or possibly hundreds of thousands — of artillery shells, along with several hundred short-range missiles.
As reported by Defence Blog, in exchange, North Korea is expected to receive advanced air defence systems, including surface-to-air missile systems. Paparo emphasised that this is a transaction through which both countries supplement their deficiencies, benefiting both parties. His comments arise amidst growing concerns over the deepening military cooperation between these regimes.
Exchange between North Korea and Russia
US intelligence officials have confirmed the increasing flow of weapons from North Korea to Russia, with Paparo's remarks offering one of the most direct and detailed assessments of this development by a senior military officer, as highlighted by Defence Blog.
In December 2024, a train convoy carrying vehicles resembling launchers for North Korean Pukguksong-2 ballistic missiles was observed in Russia. Meanwhile, in February 2025, South Korean media reported additional arms deliveries from North Korea, anticipated before the end of March. Among these were KN-23 ballistic missiles and 122 mm and 152 mm artillery shells, compatible with Soviet-era systems still utilised by Russian forces.
Pukguksong-2 and KN-23 are two North Korean short and medium-range ballistic missiles that have drawn significant interest from military experts and the international community in recent years. These missile systems reflect North Korea's intensive efforts to modernise its arsenal and are a crucial component of Kim Jong Un's regime's deterrence strategy.
The Pukguksong-2, also known as KN-15, was first revealed to the world in February 2017. It is a solid-fuel ballistic missile, marking a significant advancement from earlier North Korean liquid-fuel designs. With the use of solid fuel, the Pukguksong-2 is far more mobile and can be launched in a shorter time, making it difficult to detect and neutralise prior to launch. The missile is launched from a mobile tracked launcher, similar to an armoured personnel carrier, further enhancing its resistance to detection and operational flexibility.
The Pukguksong-2 is likely based on submarine-launched missile technology, specifically the Pukguksong-1, developed as a Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM). Adapting this technology to a land-based version has led to the creation of a system with a range of approximately 745–808 miles, capable of striking targets in South Korea and Japan. The missile can carry either a conventional or nuclear warhead and has a manoeuvring flight trajectory, complicating interception by missile defence systems.
The KN-23, in contrast, is a short-range ballistic missile first unveiled in May 2019. It has garnered particular interest due to its similarity to the Russian Iskander missile. Like its Russian counterpart, the KN-23 is noted for its ability to fly along a quasi-ballistic trajectory—lowered, irregular, and unpredictable—which significantly complicates interception. The range of the KN-23 is estimated to be about 248–435 miles, although some tests suggest the potential to strike targets up to 621 miles away.
This missile also utilises solid fuel and is launched from mobile wheeled or tracked launchers. Its design enables very precise strikes, suggesting a capability to target specific military installations, such as bases, airports, or command centres. Interestingly, the KN-23 has been tested in a variant with a larger warhead, possibly indicating an effort to integrate it with a high-yield nuclear warhead.
