KYIV, Feb 6 (Reuters) – North Korean ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine by Russian forces since late December have been far more precise than salvos of the weapons launched over the past year, two senior Ukrainian sources told Reuters.
At a time when Moscow’s burgeoning ties with Pyongyang are causing alarm from Washington to Seoul, the increase in accuracy – to within 50-100m of the intended target – suggests North Korea is successfully using the battlefield to test its missile technology, the sources said.
A military source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information, described a marked improvement in the precision in all the more than 20 North Korean ballistic missiles that hit Ukraine over the past several weeks. A second source, a senior government official familiar with the issue, confirmed the findings when asked by Reuters.
Yang Uk, a weapons expert at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said such improvements in North Korean missile capabilities have troubling implications for its potential to threaten South Korea, Japan and the United States or sell upgraded weapons to “failed” states or armed groups.
“That can have a major impact on stability in the region and the world,” he said, in response to questions for this story.
North Korea’s military programmes have developed rapidly in recent years, including short- and intermediate-range missiles that Pyongyang says can be tipped with nuclear warheads. However, until its involvement in Ukraine, the long-isolated nation had never tested the new weapons in combat.
Ukraine’s defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Ukraine does not usually disclose the outcome of Russian missile and drone strikes on military targets.
The defence ministries in Russia and South Korea, as well as South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, did not respond to Reuters questions.
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SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk
RELATED: French Mirage 2000 fighter jets delivered to Kyiv amid North Korea missile warning
THE INDEPENDENT | Published February 6, 2025
Ukrainian military officials say that North Korean ballistic missiles fired by Russian forces have become far more precise
The first French Mirage 2000 fighter jets has arrived in Ukraine to help Kyiv’s fight against Vladimir Putin’s forces – as Russia’s aerial assault continues.
French armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the jets arrived in Ukraine on Thursday morning.
“With Ukrainian pilots on board who have been trained for several months in France, they will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine,” he wrote, without mentioning the number of planes. Ukraine has also received F-16 jets from a number of other European countries.
It comes as senior Ukrainian military officials have warned that North Korean ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine by Russian forces have become far more precise over time.
Russia’s invading forces have been using imported North Korean projectiles since the end of 2023, and their accuracy and performance has changed drastically since then, military sources told Reuters.
All the more than 20 ballistic missiles that hit Ukraine over the past several weeks landed within 50 metres to 100m of their intended target, the sources said.
This is not only helping Russia in its war effort but also improving North Korea‘s military capabilities, they warned.
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SOURCE: www.independent.co.uk
