Ukraine Becomes North Korea’s Testing Ground for New War Weapons (Part 2)

Particularly worrisome is the fact that analysis has been pouring out after the discovery of North Korean missile debris on the Ukrainian battlefield, suggesting that North Korea is using the Ukrainian battlefield as a testing ground.

The missile that North Korea is believed to have provided to Russia on the 2nd is KN-23, the latest short-range ballistic missile whose first test launch took place in May 2019. It is a weapon system that can be used as a tactical nuclear weapon as it can mount a nuclear warhead on the warhead part. This is why there is analysis that North Korea may have tested the performance and destructive power of short-range ballistic missiles that can be used against South Korea in real combat through Russia.

North Korea has frequently launched ballistic missiles for test purposes but had no opportunity to test its performance in actual combat. Therefore, from North Korea’s perspective, it is of great significance to be able to obtain data to improve defects or shortcomings and increase missile performance and accuracy by confirming the capabilities of domestically produced ballistic missiles confirmed in actual combat through the war in Ukraine.

Experts also predict that Russia’s direct use of North Korean missiles in attacks on Ukraine will have a positive impact on the advancement of North Korea’s missile capabilities.

As the tide of war has been reversed due to the supply of North Korean weapons, Ukraine is in desperate need of Western support. However, progress is slow. In the U.S. Congress, the budget bill is delayed due to differences in positions between parties, and the Ukrainian aid project has been suspended. John Kirby, Coordinator of Strategic Communication at the White House National Security Council (NSC), recently pressured Congress, saying, “Ukraine is under constant attack. They are exposed to Russia’s relentless shelling, air strikes, missile and drone attacks.”

The European Union (EU) has also started to move, but it is uncertain whether the support will be realized. The EU is considering a plan where member countries jointly procure military supplies and provide additional support after creating a dedicated fund for supporting Ukraine. The size of the fund is known to be around $22 billion (around 29.3 trillion KRW). On the 1st of next month, they are also planning to discuss economic support measures for Ukraine.

However, it is uncertain whether such efforts can prevent military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Experts believe that North Korea has promised to receive advanced technology support in the fields of nuclear, missile, and space in return for weapons provision. North Korea is unlikely to give up the opportunity to confirm how the Western air defense network responds to its new domestic missiles in Ukraine.

The NYT diagnosed that the nature of the new bilateral relationship is unclear, but “there is no doubt that North Korea is focusing on strengthening relations with Russia.”

By. Sharon Lee