North Korean missile threats rise with new manoeuvrability
North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, which were initially prone to malfunctions, have become a significantly larger threat in recent weeks. Experts believe this is due to modifications made based on experiences from their use against Ukrainian forces.
Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, a former Ukrainian military pilot and current aviation expert, noted the increasing effectiveness of North Korean weapons. He explained that the North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles are now capable of manoeuvring in the final stage of flight, making them harder to intercept by air defence systems, including advanced American Patriots.
KN-23 ballistic missiles increasingly threatening to Ukraine
The Ukrainian expert believes that the KN-23 ballistic missiles have been significantly improved since the first attacks carried out by the Russians over the past several months. He attributes this to the effects of close military-technical cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which benefits both sides. The Russians can attack Ukrainian cities more effectively, while the North Koreans enhance their weapons based on war experiences, not just test ranges, which alarms not only Ukraine but also South Korea and Japan.
"Although the precision of the strikes remains low, the missile can now evade air defences, making it a serious threat. It’s about the last 30 kilometres, which such a missile covers in just 3 to 5 seconds. At this range, Patriot systems usually attack, but when the enemy missile manoeuvres, it becomes extremely difficult," Khrapchynskyi said on Kyiv24 television.
Missiles with high destructive power
The KN-23 ballistic missiles were used during the attack on Sumy, which the Russians carried out on 13 April. Khrapchynskyi believes this is another example of the Russians' deliberate actions aimed at "causing as many civilian casualties as possible".
KN-23 ballistic missiles are solid-fuelled constructions that, due to their size and range, are compared to Russian Iskanders. They are about 8 metres long and weigh over 3,000 kilograms, with 500 kilograms allocated to the warhead. They enable attacks on targets approximately 600-700 kilometres away.
In November of last year, a CNN report indicated that about one-third of all ballistic missiles used by Russia to attack Ukraine in 2024 are precisely the North Korean KN-23s.
