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North Korea appears to be increasing its military commitment to the war in Ukraine following the disclosure that the communist state is going to donate more than 100 mobile howitzers to the Russian army.
The 170mm M1989 Koksan howitzers, among the longest-range artillery systems in the world, are known as “juche cannons” and were built to pound the South Korean capital in the event of a conflict.
The new arms donation comes in the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un sending more than 10,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine.
The North Korean troops have, however, suffered significant casualties, with estimates suggesting that at least 4,000 have been killed, wounded, or captured while fighting in the Kursk region of Russia.
The new weapons will be welcomed by Russian defence chiefs, who have reportedly lost over 10,000 military vehicles since the start of the invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago.
Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, said that Pyongyang was preparing to double the number of artillery systems it has sent to the border region of Kursk.
Lt Gen Budanov said that over the past three months, Kim Jong-un had already given Moscow at least 120 North Korean-made M1989 Koksans, as well as another 120 of its M1991 multiple-launch rocket systems.
Speaking to defence website The War Zone, he said Pyongyang was preparing to send another tranche of the same weapons.
The M1989 Koksan is a 40-ton self-propelled gun that first appeared during a military parade in 1989. The term “juche” is used in North Korean propaganda to describe its state ideology of freedom and self-reliance.
In late December, footage showed a train transporting a convoy of at least 10 M1989 Koksans to Russia, their 25ft-long barrels on full display, with little to no camouflage hiding them from enemy strikes.
By 07 January, video footage emerged of the weapons on the battlefield in Kursk. In the video, a North Korean soldier called the artillery system a “gift” from Kim to his soldiers abroad.
Pyongyang has deep reserves of artillery systems and ammunition, which have been stockpiled largely to threaten and prepare for a conflict with its rival, South Korea.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said last week that the North was preparing for an additional dispatch of troops to Russia. US officials, speaking to The New York Times, said the fresh reinforcements could arrive within two months.
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang – which signed a “mutual military assistance” deal last June – has confirmed Kim Jong-un’s participation in the war, despite two North Korean prisoners of war being captured by Kyiv.
Ukrainian reports have also emerged stating that North Korean soldiers appear to have temporarily withdrawn from one of the axes of the front in Kursk.
A Special Operations Forces (SOF) spokesman confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Pyongyang’s troops had retreated from some of their positions and are probably regrouping after suffering significant losses.
The statement came after a Ukrainian commander told Sky News that North Korean troops had, for now, withdrawn from the front line in the Russian border region.
The commander, who goes by his call sign “Puls”, said they were probably trying to learn lessons from their mistakes, tending to their wounded, or waiting for reinforcements.
“I think they’ll be back soon,” he said, while also noting the high motivation among the foreign soldiers despite heavy losses.
Puls also described how North Korean soldiers were an easy target as they appeared to be unaware of the threats from drones and modern artillery and had been attacked on foot in large groups “like in World War II”.
His claims echo those of Ukrainian commanders and analysts, who say the troops have not been trained in modern warfare and are being used by their Russian allies as cannon fodder in “human wave” attacks.
