Latest news with #Hwasong-11
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia significantly improved North Korea's shoddy KN-23 ballistic missiles, Ukraine's Budanov says
Russia helped significantly improve North Korea's KN-23 ballistic missiles, also known as Hwasong-11, after receiving the first inaccurate batch from Pyongyang, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) chief, said in an interview with The War Zone published on June 9. North Korea has supplied Russia with ammunition, ballistic missiles, and soldiers since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. KN-23 ballistic missiles initially flew with a deviation of a few kilometers and around half fired at Ukraine by Russia malfunctioned and exploded in mid-air, Reuters reported in May 2024, citing Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office. But now they are hitting their targets, Budanov said, without specifying what exactly was changed in the North Korean missiles. "The KN-23 missiles that were delivered in the very beginning, now it's an absolutely different missile in (terms) of their technical characteristics. The accuracy has increased many times," Budanov said. "This is the result of the common work of Russian and North Korean specialists. Also, there is the modernization of long-range air-to-air missiles, particular technologies on submarines, and unfortunately, ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear payloads," he added. According to Budanov, Russia has also agreed to help North Korea begin domestic production of Shahed-type kamikaze drones. Pyongyang has ratcheted up its support for Russia following Russian President Vladimir Putin's signing of a mutual defense pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2024. According to a May 29 report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), Pyongyang shipped to Russia up to 9 million artillery shells and at least 100 ballistic missiles in 2024 alone. North Korea's involvement in the war expanded in fall 2024, when it deployed thousands of troops to Russia's western border to help fend off a large-scale Ukrainian incursion. The move followed the signing of a defense treaty between the two countries in June 2024, obligating both to provide military aid if either is attacked. North Korea acknowledged its role in the war only in April 2025. A month later, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un said the country's participation was part of a "sacred mission," aligning Pyongyang's narrative with Moscow's. Read also: Exclusive: Ukraine could face 500+ Russian drones a night as Kremlin builds new launch sites We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yomiuri Shimbun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
North Korea's Kim Jong Un Leads Missile Test, Stresses Nuclear Force Readiness, KCNA Says
KCNA via REUTERS A handout photo shows a missile launch, in North Korea, May 8, 2025. SEOUL, May 9 (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test of a short-range ballistic missile and long-range artillery on Thursday and stressed the importance of combat readiness of the country's nuclear forces, state media reported on Friday. The test, which also included an inspection of the operational reliability of its 'nuclear trigger' system, was designed to ensure the rapid response posture to counter the sensitive regional military climate, KCNA news agency said. South Korea and Japan on Thursday reported multiple ballistic missiles were fired from North Korea's east coast in what was believed to be a performance test of short-range missiles that had been already deployed. KCNA said the 600 mm multiple launch rocket systems and tactical ballistic missile Hwasong-11 were mobilised for the test. Hwasong-11 is known internationally as KN-23, a series of the North's short-range ballistic missiles that Ukraine and Western officials have said were being supplied to Russia and used by Moscow to strike Ukraine. Ahead of the missile launches, there was an inspection of a nuclear defense system, dubbed by the North as 'nuclear trigger', KCNA said. 'Kim Jong Un said that it is very important to steadily perfect the normal combat readiness of the nuclear force' to deter war and fight war, ' KCNA said. 'He said that the DPRK should continue to direct efforts to steadily improving the long-range precision striking capability and efficiency of weapons systems,' KCNA said, using the short form for the country's official name. A South Korean military official and an analyst said Thursday's missile launches were was likely to test the performance of a short-range missile arsenal, possibly to upgrade them for export.
United News of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
NKorea's firing drills held to test preparedness for nuclear counterattack
Pyongyang, May 9 (UNI) North Korea held military exercises to practice rapidly switching over to the nuclear counterattack posture as part of firing drills, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. A Hwasong-11 tactical ballistic missile and a 600-millimeter long-range multiple launch rocket system were used during the exercises, the report said. The goal of the exercises was achieved, it said, adding that the reliability of the command and mobilization system capable of quickly reacting to any nuclear crises was verified. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided the drills. UNI SPUTNIK GNK
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
North Korea's Kim Jong Un leads missile test, stresses nuclear force readiness, KCNA says
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test of a short-range ballistic missile and long-range artillery on Thursday and stressed the importance of combat readiness of the country's nuclear forces, state media reported on Friday. The test, which also included an inspection of the operational reliability of its 'nuclear trigger' system, was designed to ensure the rapid response posture to counter the sensitive regional military climate, KCNA news agency said. South Korea and Japan on Thursday reported multiple ballistic missiles were fired from North Korea's east coast in what was believed to be a performance test of short-range missiles that had been already deployed. KCNA said the 600 mm multiple launch rocket systems and tactical ballistic missile Hwasong-11 were mobilised for the test. Hwasong-11 is known internationally as KN-23, a series of the North's short-range ballistic missiles that Ukraine and Western officials have said were being supplied to Russia and used by Moscow to strike Ukraine. Ahead of the missile launches, there was an inspection of a nuclear defense system, dubbed by the North as 'nuclear trigger', KCNA said. 'Kim Jong Un said that it is very important to steadily perfect the normal combat readiness of the nuclear force' to deter war and fight war, ' KCNA said. 'He said that the DPRK should continue to direct efforts to steadily improving the long-range precision striking capability and efficiency of weapons systems,' KCNA said, using the short form for the country's official name. A South Korean military official and an analyst said Thursday's missile launches were was likely to test the performance of a short-range missile arsenal, possibly to upgrade them for export.
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Kim Jong Un Oversees Missile Test, Nuclear Readiness Push
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test of a short-range ballistic missile and long-range artillery on Thursday and stressed the importance of combat readiness of the country's nuclear forces, state media reported on Friday. The test, which also included an inspection of the operational reliability of its 'nuclear trigger' system, was designed to ensure the rapid response posture to counter the sensitive regional military climate, KCNA news agency said. South Korea and Japan on Thursday reported multiple ballistic missiles were fired from North Korea's east coast in what was believed to be a performance test of short-range missiles that had been already deployed. KCNA said the 600 mm multiple launch rocket systems and tactical ballistic missile Hwasong-11 were mobilised for the test. Hwasong-11 is known internationally as KN-23, a series of the North's short-range ballistic missiles that Ukraine and Western officials have said were being supplied to Russia and used by Moscow to strike Ukraine. Ahead of the missile launches, there was an inspection of a nuclear defense system, dubbed by the North as 'nuclear trigger', KCNA said. 'Kim Jong Un said that it is very important to steadily perfect the normal combat readiness of the nuclear force' to deter war and fight war, ' KCNA said. 'He said that the DPRK should continue to direct efforts to steadily improving the long-range precision striking capability and efficiency of weapons systems,' KCNA said, using the short form for the country's official name. A South Korean military official and an analyst said Thursday's missile launches were was likely to test the performance of a short-range missile arsenal, possibly to upgrade them for export.
