Recently, a video surfaced online showing another trainload of weapons and military equipment from North Korea. The footage is said to have been shot in the Tyumen region, and this material is attracting attention for two reasons.
First, at least 10 M1989 Koksan self-propelled 170mm artillery mounts can be seen in the video. Moreover, this is already the second level of such installations discovered on Russian territory in recent days.
Second, in addition to the Koksan rockets, five pieces of equipment can be seen in the frame, which are probably launchers for Pukguksong-2 medium-range ballistic missiles, also known as Polar Star or in the American classification – KN-15.
According to my source, this was filmed in the Tyumen region. Shows both 10 Koksanov and 4 Pukguksong-2 SLBMs. Given that 12 was seen in the previous video, this MAY be a separate batch. pic.twitter.com/LiZJXBENTJ
– KPAWeaponsTracker (@KPAWeapons) December 21, 2024 year
The publication states that until clearer images appear, it is not yet possible to say for sure that it is this particular missile. However, there is still a high probability that North Korea and the Russian Federation have an agreement to reinforce the Russian troops with a greater number and range of weapons.
What is known about Pukguksong-2 (KN-15)
Like most North Korean weapons, the Pukguksong-2 (KN-15) ballistic missile was developed in strict secrecy. Therefore, the exact tactical and technical characteristics remain conditional, especially with regard to its range.
Open sources note that the range of the missile can be from 1200 to 1300 km. Some sources indicate the possibility of reaching distances of more than 2000 km, and some reports even show a figure of more than 3000 km. However, such numbers look dubious and are most likely an exaggeration with propaganda bias.
The Pukguksong-2 is a land-based modification of the Pukguksong-1 missile, designed for launch from submarines. According to unofficial data, the development of this rocket may begin before 2014, although the exact time of completion of the work is still unknown.
The first tests of Pukguksong-2 reportedly took place in 2016, but they were unsuccessful and were not officially recognized by the North Korean authorities. But in February 2017, North Korea conducted a successful launch, during which the rocket flew about 500 km and reached a maximum height of 550 km. These tests were covered by North Korean media, which officially confirmed that it was the Pukguksong-2 that was involved. Although North Korean intelligence first considered the possibility of testing other missiles, in particular Nodong or Musudan.
In the same year, there was another rocket launch with similar range and altitude indicators. After this, North Korea announced its readiness to begin mass production of this missile. Already in 2019, a confirmation appeared of the deployment of these missiles at North Korean missile bases.
Pukguksong-2 is known to be a two-stage solid fuel rocket. It has approximate dimensions: length 9 meters, diameter 1.5 meters. A tracked chassis was chosen for the launchers, which takes into account North Korea’s terrain.
If North Korea did indeed transfer its Pukguksong-2 to the Russian Federation, such a step could have a purely pragmatic meaning for Pyongyang. This may be an attempt to test the effectiveness of its missile system in real combat conditions. Such interest may be due to the fact that the existing models of North Korean weapons that the Russian Federation already uses, in particular the KN-23 missiles, show low effectiveness and are mainly used as weapons of terror and not to solve tactical or strategic problems.
