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Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
North Korea Photos Offer Glimpse of Kim Jong Un's Tank Factory
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is shown inspecting a "major" tank production facility in photos released by state media. Kim said replacing the country's aging 20th-century armor is a top priority as the Korean People's Army upgrades its ground forces, the Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. Kim has accelerated this modernization push in recent years, expanding North Korea's United Nations-sanctioned nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile programs while also developing more advanced tanks, kamikaze drones, and a navy destroyer. He has cited "provocative" U.S. security cooperation with South Korea and Japan as justification for these efforts. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in decades, fueled by Kim's frequent missile launches, a constitutional amendment declaring the South to be a "hostile state," and the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to join Russia's war against Ukraine. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment. During his visit, Kim praised advancements in North Korea's tank designs including improvements to firepower systems, maneuverability, and electronic warfare capabilities. Stepping up large-scale production of tanks and self-propelled artillery in a short period is crucial to achieving what he described as a "second revolution" of the communist country's armed forces. In addition to a tank and unassembled tank components, self-propelled howitzers can be seen in the background of one of the photos accompanying the KCNA report. Although no North Korean tanks have been reported being used by Russian forces, a video shared on Telegram by a Russian soldier in January appeared to show a North Korean self-propelled howitzer-specifically the "Koksan" M1989-deployed on the Ukrainian front lines. That followed an earlier assessment by Ukrainian military intelligence that some 50 Koksan units, along with 20 240-mm multiple launch rocket systems, had been shipped to Russia. North Korea has also served as a major source of munitions for Russia, helping to offset severe shortages as Russian troops burned through ammunition in Ukraine. Pyongyang has supplied a number of short-range missiles and between 4 and 6 million artillery shells since the fall of 2023, according to a joint study by Reuters and the Open Source Centre last month, based on satellite imagery of Russia-flagged container ships and other sources. North Korea is believed to have suffered around 4,700 casualties out of as many as 15,000 North Koreans deployed to the front, according to South Korean lawmakers who cited intelligence officials. Yet, the survivors will bring back valuable experience in modern battle tactics. Washington and its allies have also voiced concerns Pyongyang could be receiving Russian technical assistance for its nuclear weapons program in exchange for its support. A North Korean "military commentator" was quoted in an article published by KCNA Saturday: "The building of the strongest offensive and defensive power capable of overwhelmingly suppressing any form of military threat posed by the U.S. arms buildup directly aiming at the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is the best option for deterring the danger of the outbreak of a nuclear war and ensuring the balance of strength on the Korean peninsula." U.S. President Donald Trump, who during his first term held two failed summits with Kim aimed at working toward North Korea's denuclearization, has said he is open to resuming contact with the North Korean leader. Trump administration officials told Axios, on condition of anonymity, that they have been speaking with experts on how to approach another Trump-Kim meeting. For now, however, that scenario has taken a backseat to Washington's so-far unsuccessful efforts to bring Russia to the negotiating table and end the Ukraine war, now on its fourth year. Related Articles Why China's Rogue State Allies May Worry BeijingRussia Deepens Connections With North KoreaUS Updates Travel Warning for North KoreaNorth Korea's Total Troop Deaths in Ukraine War Revealed by South 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
North Korea Photos Offer Glimpse of Kim Jong Un's Tank Factory
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is shown inspecting a "major" tank production facility in photos released by state media. Kim said replacing the country's aging 20th-century armor is a top priority as the Korean People's Army upgrades its ground forces, the Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. Why It Matters Kim has accelerated this modernization push in recent years, expanding North Korea's United Nations-sanctioned nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile programs while also developing more advanced tanks, kamikaze drones, and a navy destroyer. He has cited "provocative" U.S. security cooperation with South Korea and Japan as justification for these efforts. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in decades, fueled by Kim's frequent missile launches, a constitutional amendment declaring the South to be a "hostile state," and the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to join Russia's war against Ukraine. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment. What To Know During his visit, Kim praised advancements in North Korea's tank designs including improvements to firepower systems, maneuverability, and electronic warfare capabilities. Stepping up large-scale production of tanks and self-propelled artillery in a short period is crucial to achieving what he described as a "second revolution" of the communist country's armed forces. In addition to a tank and unassembled tank components, self-propelled howitzers can be seen in the background of one of the photos accompanying the KCNA report. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a tank factory. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a tank factory. Korean Central News Agency Although no North Korean tanks have been reported being used by Russian forces, a video shared on Telegram by a Russian soldier in January appeared to show a North Korean self-propelled howitzer—specifically the "Koksan" M1989—deployed on the Ukrainian front lines. That followed an earlier assessment by Ukrainian military intelligence that some 50 Koksan units, along with 20 240-mm multiple launch rocket systems, had been shipped to Russia. North Korea has also served as a major source of munitions for Russia, helping to offset severe shortages as Russian troops burned through ammunition in Ukraine. Pyongyang has supplied a number of short-range missiles and between 4 and 6 million artillery shells since the fall of 2023, according to a joint study by Reuters and the Open Source Centre last month, based on satellite imagery of Russia-flagged container ships and other sources. 1 of 2 North Korea is believed to have suffered around 4,700 casualties out of as many as 15,000 North Koreans deployed to the front, according to South Korean lawmakers who cited intelligence officials. Yet, the survivors will bring back valuable experience in modern battle tactics. Washington and its allies have also voiced concerns Pyongyang could be receiving Russian technical assistance for its nuclear weapons program in exchange for its support. What People Are Saying A North Korean "military commentator" was quoted in an article published by KCNA Saturday: "The building of the strongest offensive and defensive power capable of overwhelmingly suppressing any form of military threat posed by the U.S. arms buildup directly aiming at the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is the best option for deterring the danger of the outbreak of a nuclear war and ensuring the balance of strength on the Korean peninsula." What's Next U.S. President Donald Trump, who during his first term held two failed summits with Kim aimed at working toward North Korea's denuclearization, has said he is open to resuming contact with the North Korean leader. Trump administration officials told Axios, on condition of anonymity, that they have been speaking with experts on how to approach another Trump-Kim meeting. For now, however, that scenario has taken a backseat to Washington's so-far unsuccessful efforts to bring Russia to the negotiating table and end the Ukraine war, now on its fourth year.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Russia is relying so heavily on North Korea that it's getting 50% of its ammo from Pyongyang, Ukraine's spy chief says
Ukraine's military intelligence chief said North Korea is covering 50% of Russia's war ammo needs. Kyrylo Budanov said it's another sign of how heavily Pyongyang is contributing to the war. His comment also comes as Ukraine has been trying to hit Russia's ammo supply. North Korea is providing Russia with half of the ammunition used by Moscow against Ukraine, the head of Kyiv's military intelligence agency said on Sunday. "They heavily rely on — well, we can now say it — their strategic ally, North Korea, that is covering for practically 50% of Russia's need for munitions," Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, told reporters. "Artillery shells, in particular." Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Budanov said Pyongyang was also providing Russia with 155mm self-propelled howitzers and multiple-launch rocket systems. He has previously said that these were the M1989 "Koksan" howitzer and the M1991 system. Over the last year, North Korea has increasingly dedicated resources to help Russia sustain its war against Ukraine. It deployed an estimated 11,000 to 12,000 troops in Kursk late last year. Pyongyang's involvement comes as Moscow and Kyiv focus on outlasting each other along the largely stagnant front lines and as Russia digs deep into its economy to maintain recruitment and weapons production. North Korea isn't giving its resources away for free. Its leader, Kim Jong Un, is reported by South Korean intelligence to be receiving technological assistance from Russian experts, as well as food and cash from Moscow. Large-scale ammunition shipments from Pyongyang could especially frustrate Ukraine's effort to exhaust Moscow's supply by targeting factories and depots deep inside Russian territory with drone strikes. Ukraine's military chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said in January that Russia was expending about 40,000 artillery rounds per day, but that the strikes had pushed that count "significantly lower." Meanwhile, the head of Ukraine's foreign intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko, also said at the Sunday press conference that Russia plans to locally manufacture 7 million artillery rounds and mines in 2025. "Russia clearly understands that it produces more of those than the rest of the European countries together," Ivashchenko said. He added that Russia intends to produce 3,000 long-range precision missiles this year. In comparison, the US is planning to produce 100,000 shells a month by the summer of 2025, or 1.2 million a year. And that's already a ramped-up production cycle. The European Union has said that it hopes to produce 2 million shells in 2025. The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider
Asia Times
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Asia Times
S Korea's new missile both bunker buster and nuclear hedge
South Korea's new KTSSM bunker-buster missile enhances conventional strike capabilities while quietly positioning the country for a potential independent nuclear deterrent. The missile's deployment signifies a broader strategic change that could potentially blur the boundaries between conventional and nuclear postures. This month, Yonhap News Agency reported that South Korea has fielded the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM), a domestically developed precision-strike weapon designed to neutralize North Korea's underground artillery sites. Dubbed 'Ure' (Thunder), the KTSSM can conduct rapid, simultaneous precision strikes, targeting North Korea's long-range artillery, much of which is positioned within striking distance of Seoul. With a range of 180 kilometers, the missile enhances South Korea's deterrence posture amid escalating tensions. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) emphasized that the deployment provides the military with an 'overwhelming' capability to destroy enemy positions in a contingency. The KTSSM was first developed following North Korea's November 2010 bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island. Global Security notes that KTSSM is an affordable tactical ballistic system similar to the US Army's Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), though it offers improved accuracy at the expense of a shorter range. There are two variants: KTSSM-1, which is intended to target North Korea's M1978/M1989 Koksan 170-mm howitzers and M1985/M1991 240-mm multiple rocket launchers (MRL), and KTSSM-2, a self-propelled unit designed to strike North Korea's KN-09 300-mm MRLs and KN-02 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM). The Koksan's range with conventional shells is 40 kilometers and 60 kilometers with rocket-assisted projectiles, while North Korea's 240-millimeter MRLs have a similar range. The KN-09 has an estimated range of 200 kilometers and the KN-02 falls within the 120-170 kilometer range. KTSSM Block 1 features a thermal penetrating warhead, while Block 2 employs a unitary high-explosive warhead. South Korea deploys the KTSSM at the corps level, whereas its Army Missile Command operates the Hyunmoo and ATACMS systems. North Korea's hardened artillery sites (HARTS) remain a significant threat. Kyle Mizokami, in a January 2021 article for The National Interest (TNI), states that North Korea has between 200 and 500 HARTS positioned in the mountains north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). These artillery pieces can fire and retreat into the mountains to reload. North Korea intends to use these sites to either support a potential invasion or as a means of bombardment against Seoul. It can also use its artillery threat as a means of coercion against the US and South Korea without relying on chemical or nuclear weapons. An August 2020 RAND Corporation report estimates that North Korea possesses around 6,000 rocket and tube artillery pieces capable of striking significant South Korean population centers with high-explosive ammunition. Even a brief, targeted barrage could inflict catastrophic damage. RAND warns that if these artillery units fired for an hour, fatalities could reach 100,000, while strikes on industrial facilities could devastate South Korea's economy. The report stresses that the rapid onset of destruction would make it difficult for the US and South Korea to prevent mass casualties or protect civilian populations. While these assessments underscore the scale of the threat, other experts caution against overstating North Korea's artillery capabilities. In a November 2024 Modern Warfare Institute (MWI) article, Ju Hyung Kim argues that North Korea's artillery, though significant, may not be as formidable as often portrayed. He notes that North Korea likely possesses only about 100 170-millimeter self-propelled guns and 200 240-millimeter MRLs that could reach Seoul. Kim also highlights the poor accuracy and high dud rate of North Korea's artillery. During the 2010 Yeonpyeong bombardment, North Korea fired 400 rounds, yet only 80 reached their targets, while 320 fell into the sea. Of the 80 that hit their targets, 20 failed to detonate. From that, Kim estimates that in a full-scale attack on Seoul, North Korea's 170-millimeter guns could fire 100 shells, while its 240-millimeter MRLs could fire 4,400 rockets, but only 48 shells and 1,840 rockets would reach the city. Given Seoul's vast urban sprawl, the prevalence of reinforced concrete structures and the high dud rate of North Korean munitions, he argues that the damage inflicted by such an attack would be considerably lower than worst-case projections suggest. While North Korea's nuclear arsenal dominates discussions about deterrence, South Korea's investment in conventional weapons such as the KTSSM demonstrates the continued relevance of non-nuclear deterrence. In a 2019 Federation of American Scientists (FAS) report, Adam Mount critiques South Korea's reliance on the US nuclear umbrella, arguing that it is an inadequate response to North Korea's limited acts of aggression and risks unnecessary escalation. He contends that conventional responses are preferable due to nuclear escalation's operational, economic, political, human and normative costs. Mount further notes that relying on nuclear weapons for deterrence imposes strategic constraints while offering little practical leverage. Politically, he contends that South Korea's reliance on US extended deterrence presents a dilemma; the US is unlikely to forward-deploy nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, and even if it did, their operational utility would be limited. Further, South Korea's strategic calculations could be complicated by the potential for the US to use nuclear weapons against the former's wishes. Given these constraints, South Korea's development of the KTSSM aligns with its broader conventional counterforce and countervalue strategy. In a 2021 International Security journal article, Ian Bowers and Henrik Hiim argue that South Korea's pursuit of these capabilities reflects a long-term strategy of hedging against potential US abandonment while reinforcing its nuclear latency. North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) capable of striking the US mainland amplifies the risk that the US could dilute its nuclear-extended deterrence commitments to South Korea. This strategic uncertainty incentivizes South Korea to enhance its independent deterrence capabilities, ensuring that it retains the ability to preemptively neutralize North Korea's nuclear arsenal and leadership if necessary. In the short term, South Korea's emphasis on conventional deterrence enables it to credibly threaten North Korean military assets without escalating to nuclear brinkmanship. Over the long term, however, developments such as the KTSSM provide South Korea with a technological foundation for rapid nuclear weaponization should the security environment necessitate such a shift. Bowers and Hiim say South Korea's nuclear hedging strategy is based on dual-use missile systems. This means that South Korea is deliberately building up capabilities that could be used for nuclear deterrence, if necessary, while avoiding the immediate risks and political fallout of pursuing nuclear weapons. The KTSSM's deployment highlights South Korea's evolving security calculus. While still under the US nuclear umbrella, South Korea's investment in advanced conventional strike systems signals a growing desire for strategic autonomy. The missile serves an immediate tactical purpose—countering North Korea's artillery threat—but its broader implications extend into nuclear strategy.
