Moscow/Pyongyang: North Korea has escalated its involvement in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine by supplying not only soldiers but also weaponry, including the enigmatic M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery.
Halfway to the Battlefield
Photographs of M1989 Koksan artillery being transported by train recently surfaced on Russian Telegram channels. Western open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts have since geolocated the artillery in Krasnoyarsk, central Russia. This city is strategically positioned halfway between North Korea and the Ukrainian frontlines, according to Ziare.
The Koksan, named after the North Korean city where it was first identified, is one of the country’s most distinctive and mysterious weapons. This 170 mm artillery gun boasts an impressive range of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) with standard shells and 60 kilometers (37 miles) with rocket-assisted projectiles.
However, the weapon has significant limitations, including a slow firing rate of just 1-2 shells every five minutes and a design that offers minimal protection for its crew.
A Vulnerable Yet Significant Weapon
Unlike modern artillery, the Koksan lacks a turret or armored superstructure, exposing its crew to counterattacks and enemy fire. The driver is the only member offered any degree of protection, confined to a small enclosed cabin at the front.
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The weapon’s introduction to Russia’s arsenal also presents logistical challenges. The 170 mm caliber of the Koksan is rare outside North Korea, while Russia predominantly uses 152 mm and 122 mm artillery shells. This incompatibility necessitates North Korea to supply its own ammunition, requiring separate storage and careful management to avoid confusion with Russian stockpiles.
A Weapon Familiar to the West
Despite its shroud of secrecy, the Koksan is relatively well-known in the West. During the Iran-Iraq War (1979–1989), Iran acquired several Koksan units from North Korea. Some of these were later captured by Iraq and eventually fell into U.S. hands during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This gave Western analysts an opportunity to study the artillery in detail.
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While the Koksan may bolster Russian forces in the short term, its vulnerabilities and logistical demands could complicate its deployment on Ukraine’s battlefields.
