One third of ballistic missiles used by Russia to attack Ukraine are Korean KN-23 - CNN

About a third of the ballistic missiles used by Russia to attack Ukraine in 2024 were KN-23 ballistic missiles manufactured by the DPRK.

Here's What We Know

In 2024, Russia fired about 60 North Korean KN-23 missiles - almost a third of the 194 ballistic missiles used during the year (as of 23 November). This was reported by an unnamed Ukrainian military source to CNN.

"We see that since the spring, Russia has been using ballistic missiles and attack drones to strike Ukraine much more and less cruise missiles," explains Yuriy Ihnat, acting head of the communications department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.

According to a report by the Ukrainian Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), nine Western companies, including those from the US, the Netherlands and the UK, manufacture key components of the KN-23 missiles. Components manufactured in 2023 were found in the parts of the missiles that were analysed, indicating that these parts were quickly delivered to North Korea.

These conclusions are confirmed by the British investigative group Conflict Armament Research (CAR), which examined the remains of a KN-23 missile found in Kharkiv. CAR analysts found that this ballistic missile, fired by the Russian military, contained more than 290 foreign-made electronic components.

CAR documented 290 parts, including 50 unique models. It has identified 26 companies from eight countries, including China, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States, that were involved in the production of these components.

75% of them were produced by companies registered in the United States, 16% by European manufacturers, and the remaining 9% by companies from Asia.

Source: CNN