North Korea Deploys Missile Unit to Russia for Ukraine Strikes

A North Korean missile unit of approximately 90 personnel has begun deploying to the Voronezh region of western Russia. According to Andrii Cherniak of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, the unit will be integrated into Russia's 112th Missile Brigade and is equipped with six launchers and 120 ballistic missiles.

This deployment follows Russia's use of North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 missiles. Ukrainian sources state these missiles carry larger payloads than Russian Iskander missiles but lack the same level of precision. The arrival of these assets follows a broader military cooperation effort that has already seen North Korea provide artillery shells and deploy 14,000 troops to the Kursk region to repel Ukrainian incursions.

Ukraine expresses concern that the increase in ballistic missiles will exploit gaps in its air defenses as winter approaches. These fears follow a recent strike by a North Korean missile on a residential home in the village of Radushne, which killed five people. President Volodymyyr Zelenskyy stated that the Kremlin has sought an additional 30,000 North Korean troops to bolster its efforts.