Intelligence: In addition to Koksan, Russia received 240mm MRLs from the DPRK
17 November, 2024 Launches of 240mm guided missiles. Photo: NKNews In addition to the long-range M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems, the DPRK has also transferred 240mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to Russia, which are capable of using high-precision missiles.
Financial Times reported on this, citing sources in Ukrainian intelligence. Some of the transferred weapons were deployed to the Kursk region of Russia to support an offensive involving North Korean soldiers. According to the newspaper citing Ukrainian intelligence, North Korea has supplied about 50 M1989 Koksan 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 20 240mm MRLs in recent weeks.
It is noted that the MRLs are capable of firing both conventional missiles and guided munitions. Ukrainian officials provided this information to the media after photos of the M1989 Koksan SPG transported by rail inside Russia were published this week.
The first photo of the North Korean M1989 Koksan self-propelled gun in Russia, November 2024
The Status-6 Twitter account geolocated the location of the train of vehicles in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk (here). In May, North Korea announced that it had successfully tested an updated 240mm MRL using precision-guided munitions.
A senior Ukrainian official shared with the media that Pyongyang now wants to test the weapon in combat. For the first time, information about the DPRK's creation of a 240mm guided missile appeared in February 2024, thanks to the DPRK's release of test launch footage. In total, five publicly known tests of the new missile system were conducted in 2024.
Launches of 240mm guided missiles.
Collage from NKNews photos
It is yet unknown what kind of chassis the MRLs transferred to Russia will have, as different types of MRLs were used during the testing of the new missile. The newest version of the launcher has a 6x6 chassis based on a commercial truck, captured in the first two photos of the collage. The technical characteristics of the new missile are also unknown.
The Korean Central News Agency (the state news agency of the DPRK) stated that the new missiles have a maximum range of 67 km.
At the same time, experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated the range of North Korea's unguided 240mm missiles at 40-60 km.