"Right from the conveyor": Russia has received new batches of ballistic missiles from the DPRK - NYT
The remains of four Hwasong-11 missiles in early September investigated in Kiev investigators from an independent British organization Conflict Armament Research (CAR), which identifies and monitors weapons and ammunition used in wars around the world. This group deciphered production markings on several details of each rocket with a range of about 700 km and visually similar to the Spander Ballistic missile.
It is noted that the North Korean rocket used during the attack on Kiev on August 18, had a marking that it was made in 2024. "Definition of the year of production that we have been able to make in the field, having studied these residues, shows a very narrow interval between production, transfer and use," said the head of the Ukrainian Mission of Conflict Armrane Research Demen Splitters.
He noted that North Korea has been under sanctions for almost two decades, which indicates a long -term violation of restrictions, as it is at least the second supply of missiles that appeared in Ukraine. The HWASONG rocket residues investigated used the usual commercially available electronic components produced by Western countries in 2023. They were similar to elements found in many Russian weapons.
However, this discovery should not be a surprise, as Russia has also been able to create modern weapons, under international sanctions aimed at slowing production. "North Korea does not have its own semiconductor industry, so it is logical that they also take advantage of the world market to access these components," Demien Splitters said. At the same time, he stressed, it means that it is possible to track and identify the entities responsible for their leakage.