Ukraine's Defence Ministry reveals details of North Korean ballistic missiles used by Russia to strike Ukraine
Military engineers and experts from Ukraine's Ministry of Defence have examined KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles manufactured by North Korea, which Russia has used to strike Ukraine. The Defence Ministry said this weaponry is a modified version of early prototypes of Russia's Iskander missile.
Source: Ukraine's Defence Ministry
Details: Ukrainian experts conducted laboratory tests on parts of a missile that fell in Kharkiv in early January 2024. The analysis confirmed that the pieces match drawings from North Korean scientific publications.
Quote from the Defence Ministry: "North Korean missiles have a unique geometry. The diameter of the KN-23 is 110 cm at the rear, narrowing to 90 cm at the front. The 110-cm figure is found in no other country in the world except North Korea. The diameter of the KN-24 is approximately 100 cm, which is found elsewhere in the world."
Ukrainian military personnel and engineers say the missile pieces match photographs from North Korean missile factories across seven parameters, such as the number of bolt holes for the nozzle fastening and the specific niches for the satellite navigation receivers.
The Defence Ministry experts determined that KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles are not direct copies of Soviet or Russian weapons, and in particular that they were not manufactured "under licence" from the Iskander 9M723.
"However, there are indications that North Korea modified an early version of the Iskander ballistic missile design," the ministry said on its website.
The North Korean missiles use less fuel and their engines are approximately one and a half times larger and longer than those of their Russian counterparts. At the same time, the ministry noted that the quality and soldering methods of components are outdated, lagging approximately 50 years behind modern standards. Components for civilian use, which North Korea likely procured in circumvention of sanctions, were also found in the missiles.
Quote: "To ensure the missile's thermal resistance during atmospheric flight, a fairing made of graphite materials was installed alongside the thermal protective coating on the nose section. This relatively cheap solution was adopted by North Korean designers primarily due to lack of access to more modern thermal protection materials."
More details: The research into North Korean missile pieces will be used as an evidence base for war crimes investigations and will inform sanctions policy, the ministry said.
Quote: "Despite the use of outdated technologies, these missiles, like all other ballistic weapons, are extremely difficult for air defence to counter and therefore pose a deadly danger to Ukrainians."
Background: Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence published a list of components of the 9M723 ballistic missile used in the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system and explained that Russia helped North Korea modernise the KN-23 and KN-24 missiles. Ukrainian intelligence has also reported on components used in North Korean missiles.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!