Why Moscow Needs Pukkuksong-2 Launchers to Counter NATO

Footage taken in Russia has shown further large scale transfers of North Korean 170mm Koksan self propelled howitzers to Russia, after these guns were first sighted in the country in mid-November. The full implications of the transfer of these high calibre artillery pieces, the dispatch of which represents part of a broader trend of much larger scale North Korean artillery supplies to Russia, was previously assessed in detail here. The latest train carrying North Korean howitzers, however, notably also carried unidentified vehicles which closely resembled the launchers from the North Korean Pukkuksong-2 medium range ballistic missile system. If confirmed, this would represent the first ever transfer of North Korean medium range ballistic missiles to Russia, following its transfer of similarly long ranged missiles to Iran and Pakistan from the 1990s. The Pukkuksong-2 has an estimated engagement range of 2500 kilometres, and would thus provide an effective shorter ranged counterpart to the Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile currently in production in Russia itself. The missile would bridge the gap between the 4000km range Oreshnik and the 800km range North Korean KN-23B, which was first confirmed to have been delivered to Russia in January 2024.

Poster Comment:

North Korean missiles are not that accurate. They had to be rewired by Russian techs.