After a several-month hiatus, Russian forces have resumed their use of North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles in strikes against Ukrainian cities.
Low Quality and Malfunction
According to Tech, the Ukrainian military has confirmed that four of these missiles were launched by Russia in the past week, raising questions about why their use had been paused for so long.
Analysts speculate that the pause may have been due to the low quality of these missiles, which have been known to malfunction.
The KN-23, also known as Hwasong-11Ga, is a solid-fuel ballistic missile that North Korea has supplied to Russia. It has a range of up to 650 kilometers, comparable to Russian Iskander missiles.
Each missile is about 9 meters long and weighs around 3,400 kilograms. Despite its specifications, the quality of the KN-23 has been called into question, with reports suggesting that up to half of these missiles fail to reach their targets, either veering off course or malfunctioning mid-flight.
Last Used in February
The last documented use of KN-23 missiles by Russia occurred on February 27, 2024, before the recent resumption of attacks on July 31, 2024.
Ukrainian defense analysts have suggested two possible reasons for the five-month break in their use: either the Russians were refining their tactics for deploying the missiles in more concentrated attacks, or they were addressing issues related to the missiles’ reliability.
While these missiles may not always hit their intended targets, they still pose a significant threat to civilian populations, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The ongoing use of KN-23 missiles highlights the challenges posed by Russia's reliance on North Korean weaponry, even as questions about its effectiveness persist.
