South Korea’s National Intelligence Service [NIS] reported that Kim Jong-sik, First Deputy Director of the North Korean Ministry of Military Industry, visited in early August, a launch site for the “North Korean version of the Iskander [KN-23].” This short-range ballistic missile was reportedly launched near the Russian-Ukrainian frontline in Donetsk, accompanied by dozens of North Korean military personnel. Kim Jong-sik was on-site to provide direct guidance.
Kim Jong-sik is one of North Korea’s top three missile developers and previously accompanied Chairman Kim Jong-un during the North Korea-Russia summit in September of last year. According to intelligence sources, Kim Jong-sik’s presence at the frontline was part of an initiative led by Chairman Kim. The primary goal was to assess the real-world combat performance of the KN-23 missile, with the intention of incorporating those findings into North Korea’s military strategy targeting South Korea.
The Ukrainian government has accused North Korea’s KN-23 of being involved in strikes on major cities, including the capital, Kyiv. These attacks have reportedly caused significant civilian casualties.
Additionally, South Korea’s NIS released a photograph of a suspected North Korean soldier operating on the Ukrainian front lines. The individual has been confirmed to be a North Korean missile technician, who accompanied Chairman Kim Jong-un during his visit to a tactical missile production plant in August of last year. The same person was also photographed with a Russian soldier, both wearing Russian military uniforms, at the KN-23 launch site near Donetsk, on Ukraine’s eastern front.
The NIS revealed that the photograph was obtained through cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence agencies. Using advanced facial recognition technology powered by artificial intelligence, the South Korean agency confirmed that the individual in the photo was the same technician previously identified in North Korean state media.
In addition to Kim Jong-sik’s visit to the frontline, the KN-23 missile itself has become a focal point of concern due to its advanced capabilities. Modeled closely after Russia’s Iskander missile, the KN-23 is a short-range ballistic missile [SRBM] designed with features aimed at evading modern missile defense systems and delivering precise, high-impact strikes. This makes it a potent asset in North Korea’s military strategy, especially when considering potential conflict scenarios on the Korean Peninsula.
The KN-23 is capable of striking targets at a range between 400 to 600 kilometers [approximately 250 to 370 miles], which places much of South Korea well within its operational reach. This range also allows North Korea to target key military installations and cities, providing significant strategic leverage in any potential conflict. Moreover, the missile is designed to carry various types of warheads, including conventional explosives or potentially even a tactical nuclear payload, with a maximum warhead capacity of up to 500 kilograms [1,100 pounds].
One of the missile’s most concerning features is its maneuverability. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a predictable arc, the KN-23 is capable of altering its trajectory mid-flight. This makes it much harder for enemy air defense systems to intercept, as it can adjust its path to avoid detection and defensive countermeasures. The missile’s ability to change direction while traveling at high speeds—reportedly up to Mach 6 [six times the speed of sound]—only increases its effectiveness as a tactical weapon.
Additionally, the KN-23 is launched from mobile platforms, making it more difficult to detect and target in advance. These mobile launchers allow North Korea to deploy the missile quickly and with minimal warning, adding another layer of unpredictability to its use.
The missile’s precision is also noteworthy. The KN-23 is believed to use an advanced guidance system, likely incorporating satellite navigation and onboard sensors. This ensures a high degree of accuracy, with an estimated circular error probable [CEP] of just a few meters. Such precision means the missile can strike specific targets with minimal collateral damage, which is particularly concerning when considering the potential for it to be used in populated areas.
By deploying and testing the KN-23 in real combat scenarios near the Russian-Ukrainian front, North Korea is gaining valuable data on its performance in battlefield conditions. This not only allows North Korea to refine its missile technology further but also serves as a stark reminder of the growing sophistication of its missile capabilities.
These developments, coupled with the presence of North Korean missile technicians and military personnel at the frontline, signal a worrying trend of increased North Korean involvement in international conflict zones while perfecting weapons that could destabilize the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
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