North Korea fires off apparent ballistic missile
The weapon was believed to have fallen into the sea shortly after launch, Japan's Defense Ministry said.
Ukraine's HUR agency recently demonstrated components of a North Korean-made ballistic missile to a Japanese delegation visiting Kyiv, as reported on September 19. HUR explained that evaluating these components enables an assessment of the missile's technical specifications and design, as well as the military capabilities of North Korea's industry.
HUR emphasized that North Korean weapons pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to Japan and other nations in the Asia-Pacific region. The agency highlighted that military-technical cooperation between Russia and North Korea facilitates Russia's ongoing conflict against Ukraine and aids the North Korean regime in bolstering its military strength and weapon development.
According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War in August, Russia is creating opportunities for escalating attacks on Ukraine using North Korean missiles, such as the KN-30 ballistic missiles. HUR verified that as of July, North Korea had supplied Russia with approximately 50 KN-23, KN-24, and KN-30 (Hwansong-11C) ballistic missiles. The KN-30 is a refined version of the KN-23, capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 2,500 kilograms, as noted by analysts.
There is no evidence suggesting that Russia has utilized KN-30 missiles to target Ukraine. On July 30, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia might have employed North Korean-made missiles in strikes against Ukraine for the first time in a considerable time. This incident resulted in the death of a large family in the village of Radushne near Kryvyi Rih.
Reuters reported that if North Korean missiles were used against Ukraine, it would indicate that Moscow had recently received new arms shipments from North Korea.
HUR representative Andrii Cherniak informed Reuters that North Korea is deploying a missile unit in western Russia with the potential to carry 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that if a North Korean missile unit is stationed on the territory of the aggressor state, Russia, it would become a legitimate target for Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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