Russia has asked North Korea for more powerful ballistic missiles, Ukrainian intelligence agency reports – photo
Russia has asked North Korea to provide KN-30 ballistic missiles.
Source: Andrii Cherniak, a representative of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), in a comment to Liga.net
Details: "Moscow has asked Pyongyang for the new North Korean KN-30 ballistic missiles, which are three times more powerful than the KN-23/24. However, no transfer of these missiles from North Korea to Russia has been recorded so far," Cherniak said.
He added that Russia has been negotiating with North Korea over a new package of military assistance ahead of the autumn-winter period.
Quote: "According to early assessments by Ukraine's military intelligence, the Kremlin is asking for 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, a missile unit of up to 90 personnel, and a contingent of 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops (it is currently unknown where they will be deployed)."
Details: Cherniak noted that Russia has already received 40 KN-23/24 ballistic missiles from the weapons it has requested. Russian forces have used two of them in one of their recent attacks on Ukraine.
The DIU representative said the final volume of North Korea's assistance to Russia is expected to be determined during talks between the leaders of the two countries in September.
Background:
- Cherniak previously told Reuters that a North Korean missile unit, which may be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine, has begun deploying in western Russia. According to Cherniak, North Korea supplied 150 missiles between late 2023 and August 2025.
- In October 2025, DIU reported on foreign-made components found in North Korean missiles.
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