About half of the North Korean missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine have reportedly failed, according to Ukraine’s top prosecutor. This strikingly high failure rate, noted for missiles which flew off course and exploded midair, raises critical questions about the quality of North Korea’s munitions and its implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s state prosecutors have been carefully examining the debris of 21 out of approximately 50 North Korean missiles launched by Russia from December to February. The examination revealed that around half of these missiles “lost their programmed trajectories and exploded in the air,” Ukraine’s top prosecutor Andriy Kostin revealed to Reuters. In these cases, debris was not recovered, providing a stark testament to the unreliability of these munitions.
Yuriy Belousov, head of the war crimes department of Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office, previously commented on the quality of North Korean ballistic missiles, estimating an accuracy rate of merely around 20 percent. The unreliability extends beyond ballistic missiles to North Korean rockets, which Ukrainian troops have described as doing “crazy things,” such as misfiring or exploding unexpectedly.
The implications of these failures extend beyond the immediate battlefield. They suggest significant weaknesses in North Korea’s stockpiles due to sanctions and outdated production capabilities. However, they may also provide Pyongyang with critical battlefield intelligence on the performance and capabilities of its weapon systems.
The use of North Korean missiles is part of a broader concern surrounding the evolving relationship between Russia and North Korea. In September 2023, a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin sparked worries of a mutually beneficial arms deal. The deal could potentially provide Russia with additional weaponry for its war in Ukraine, while giving North Korea a live-testing ground to refine its munitions.
The scale of North Korea’s support is significant. South Korean lawmakers have estimated that a million North Korean shells have been sent to Russia, surpassing the European Union’s collective aid to Ukraine. Among these are short-range Hwasong 11 missiles, resembling Russian Iskander-M systems and with a range of around 430 miles. Fragments of these missiles have been identified following attacks in regions including Kharkiv, Kyiv, Donetsk, and Kirovohrad.
The situation is complicated further by Russia’s recent veto of the annual renewal of the U.N. sanctions monitors, which has monitored enforcement of sanctions on North Korea for the past 15 years. This move underscores a growing alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang, potentially undermining international efforts to restrict North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.
Despite the challenges posed by the failed missiles and the lack of sanctions monitoring, Ukrainian authorities remain committed to their investigation, including examining whether North Korean instructors were dispatched to observe the missile launches. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office continues to gather intelligence and assess the threat posed by the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Relevant articles:
– About half of the North Korean missiles Russia fired at Ukraine flew off course and exploded in the air, offic , Business Insider India, 05/08/2024
– About half of the North Korean missiles Russia fired at Ukraine flew off course and exploded in the air, official says, Business Insider, 05/07/2024
– Russia’s Missiles From North Korea Are Exploding midair: Kyiv, Newsweek, 05/07/2024
– Ukraine examines North Korea missile debris from Russian strikes, Fox News, 05/07/2024