Ukrainian troops have for the first time destroyed a rare North Korean 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery system, Ukrainian media reported on Wednesday. The military equipment was destroyed by fighters from Unmanned System Forces’ 412th Nemesis Separate Regiment with the use of a night bomber drone in eastern Luhansk region.
The incident marked the first case of destruction of this type of self-propelled system during the three years of war in Ukraine. The regiment press service shared the video of the system’s destruction in its Telegram channel.
According to Ukrainian military sources, M1989 Koksan is a 40-ton North Korean-made self-propelled artillery system that uses a rare 170-mm caliber, while its long-barreled cannon provides a significant range. The likely rate of fire is 1-2 shots every 5 minutes.
The first recorded use of Koksan self-propelled gun [SPG] by Russian forces was in October 2024. Last month the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, stated that Russia depends on self-propelled guns from North Korea, specifically those from North Korea. Kovalenko said Russia was experiencing a shortage of heavy artillery.
Pyongyang has provided Russia with over 11,000 troops and a large number of military hardware since August last year. The military aid to Russia is in line with the mutual defense treaty signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June summit in Pyongyang last year.
