Russia bolsters Crimean front with North Korean artillery
Russia has begun transferring North Korean artillery systems to the annexed Crimea, potentially indicating an expansion of Pyongyang's involvement in the war in Ukraine, reports the "Moscow Times" via ZDF.
What do you need to know?
- Russia is moving North Korean artillery to Crimea. ZDF reported that on 26th March, a video appeared showing the transport of North Korean Koksan self-propelled guns through northern Crimea.
- North Korean troops in Russia. So far, they have only been seen in the Kursk region, where Russia conducted a counterattack against Ukrainian forces.
- Threat to Ukrainian cities. Analysts warn that this 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 mean that Pyongyang is increasing its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. So far, North Korean troops have been observed only in the Kursk region, where Russia conducted a counterattack against Ukrainian forces. Now, with Ukrainian forces expelled from Kursk, Russia might quickly move 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, capable of firing up to 60 kilometres (37 miles), 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 of these systems.
Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has deepened since President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in the summer of 2024. During this visit, a strategic partnership agreement was signed, obligating both countries to provide mutual defence assistance in the event of an attack. Russia received not only soldiers from North Korea but also substantial quantities of weaponry.
