Russian forces may have inadvertently damaged a North Korean air defense system (ADS) recently transferred to them, according to reports from the Russian Telegram channel War Zone on January 12.
The incident reportedly occurred in Russia’s Kursk region.
Initially, the equipment was misidentified by Russian propagandists as a Western radar station. The damage was inflicted using an FPV drone, with visual evidence allowing analysts to compare the damaged equipment’s silhouette to that of a North Korean short-range ADS.
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Despite the low-quality imagery, analysts noted key features of the system, such as its platform design, radar placement, and structural layout. These characteristics suggest the damaged system is a North Korean short-range ADS, first showcased at a military parade in Pyongyang on October 10, 2020.
South Korean and U.S. experts have classified the system as a short-range air defense platform mounted on a semi-trailer, bearing similarities to the Russian Tor and Chinese HQ-17 systems.
This is the latest instance of North Korean military equipment appearing in Russia’s war effort.
On January 7, reports emerged of 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems reaching the frontlines. A video filmed by a Russian serviceman showed one of these artillery units in action at a concealed firing site.
The equipment, labeled for railway transport, was described as a “gift” from North Korea.
