- Russia is preparing to station a missile unit made up of North Korean troops in the Voronezh region, according to Andrii Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), on August 5, 2023.
- The unit comprises about 90 North Korean personnel and will be folded into Russia's 112th missile brigade, Cherniak stated.
- This unit could receive up to 120 North Korean ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes on Ukraine, with Pyongyang having already sent a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles.
- Final deployment plans and missile count are expected to be worked out during talks next month.
- Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that North Korean launchers would become a legitimate target if deployed against Ukraine.
- In late July, Russia used North Korean ballistic missiles to strike Ukraine for the first time in a year, according to Cherniak, who noted that missiles from the new 40-strong batch were used.
- This reported deployment would mark Pyongyang's deepest involvement yet in Russia's war, moving beyond the artillery shells, troops, and labor it has already supplied.
Ukraine's intelligence agency has revealed that Russia is set to deploy a North Korean missile unit in the Voronezh region, comprising about 90 personnel. This unit could be armed with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, significantly escalating North Korea's involvement in the ongoing conflict.
Andrii Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), stated that North Korea has already sent a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles to Russia. The final deployment plans and missile count are expected to be finalized during upcoming talks next month.4
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned that if these launchers are deployed against Ukraine, they will become legitimate military targets. “First of all, these launchers, if deployed, must be destroyed. They immediately become a legitimate military target, so our military will respond accordingly,” he said.5
This deployment marks North Korea's most significant military involvement since the 1950s, moving beyond previous support that included artillery and troops. In late July, North Korean ballistic missiles were used to strike Ukraine for the first time in a year, resulting in civilian casualties, including a family near Kryvyi Rih.6
Analysts suggest that North Korea stands to gain economically from this partnership, receiving hard currency and military technology in exchange for its support. The U.S. and its allies have condemned these actions as violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions, which prohibit military cooperation with North Korea due to its ongoing nuclear weapons program.
“The unit, about 90 personnel, will be folded into Russia's 112th missile brigade, and Pyongyang has already sent a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles. Ukraine's foreign minister warned that any deployed launchers would become legitimate military targets and must be destroyed.”
IntelliNews
