North Korea deploys missile unit to Russia for Ukraine war, Kyiv claims

A North Korean missile unit has begun deploying to western Russia, potentially equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for use in the Ukraine war, according to an official from Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

Andrii Cherniak, of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence, stated that approximately 90 North Korean personnel are planned to be based with Russia's 112th Missile Brigade in the Voronezh region. This deployment signifies an escalation of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which has already seen North Korea supply millions of artillery shells and thousands of troops to Russia.

Pyongyang has reportedly sent a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles and personnel to Russia. These missiles, while possessing greater range and payload than Russia's Iskander, are noted for being less accurate and have been linked to high civilian casualties. The use of such missiles aligns with Russia's strategy of employing ballistic missiles that are difficult for Ukraine's air defenses to intercept.

Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, highlighted that an increase in ballistic missile quantities poses a significant challenge for Ukraine, particularly concerning its air defense capabilities, especially heading into winter. Reuters could not independently verify the assertions, as the Russian Defence Ministry and North Korea's UN embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.