According to information released by “Ukrainska Pravda,” an authoritative Ukrainian news outlet, on February 16, 2024, Russia launched a series of attacks on Ukrainian territory using North Korean-made ballistic missiles, potentially identified as KN-23 or KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles. This marks a concerning development in the conflict dynamics, highlighting North Korea’s active role in supporting Russian military operations against Ukraine.
The report by “Ukrainska Pravda” details that from December 30, 2023, to February 7, 2024, Russian forces executed at least 12 missile attacks across seven Ukrainian oblasts utilizing North Korean ballistic missiles. This not only underscores the intensification of hostilities but also the diversification of Russia’s missile arsenal with external support.
Further compounding concerns, John Kirby, the spokesperson for National Security at the White House, confirmed on January 4, 2024, that Russia had deployed ballistic missiles provided by North Korea in its military actions against Ukraine, with some open-source intelligence identifying these missiles as KN-23s. This revelation aligns with previous reports from November 2023, in which the United States Department of Defense disclosed that North Korea had shipped over 1,000 containers of arms and ammunition, including KN-23 tactical ballistic missiles, to Russia in October 2023.
Visual evidence released by the U.S. showcased a significant accumulation of these containers at Najin, a North Korean port city proximate to the Russian border. These arms were subsequently transported across Russia to a location near the Ukrainian frontier, indicating a well-orchestrated effort to bolster Russian military capabilities through North Korean armaments.