War in Ukraine: 1 in 3 ballistic missiles fired by Russia is a Korean KN-23 equipped with Western electronic components

War in Ukrainejour 1004.

The collaboration between the Russia and the North Korea reached a new milestone with the ratification of the common defense treaty between the two countries. Different sources claim that 12,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to the front in Ukraine.

But exchanges have been taking place for a long time. Indeed, at the start of 2024, Ukraine was already warning about North Korean ballistic missiles used by Russia. Almost a year later, the results are edifying: according to figures put forward by the American media CNN, 1 in 3 ballistic missiles fired in 2024 by Russia is a KN-23 North Korean. Around 60 missiles of this type were fired out of a total of 194 ballistic missiles launched by the Russians.

Components

More annoying, these missiles would be equipped with western components. Indeed, our colleagues reveal that the KN-23s are made up of circuits manufactured in the United States, the Netherlands and even the United Kingdom.

“Everything that guides the missile, makes it fly, are foreign components. All the electronics are foreign. There's nothing Korean about it.”affirms Andriy Kulchytskyi, director of the military research laboratory of the kyiv Institute of Scientific Research and Forensic Expertise, to our colleagues. “The only thing that is Korean is metal, which rusts and corrodes quickly”.

Parts like guidance systems, for example, manufactured in 2023 or 2024. Which suggests a relatively rapid delivery circuit and contrary to international sanctions. The Ukrainians believe that these coins could transit through China, but no formal proof supports this theory.