North Korea has delivered new artillery systems and multiple rocket launchers to Russia.

North Korea has supplied additional artillery systems to Russia to assist in the war against Ukraine. This was reported on November 19 by the National Intelligence Service of South Korea, as conveyed by AP, referencing lawmaker Lee Sung-kwon.

The report discusses the transfer of a batch of new 170-mm self-propelled guns and 240-mm multiple rocket launch systems. According to Lee Sung-kwon, intelligence assessed the weaponry as something the Russians had not previously used, suggesting that North Korea could send instructors for training the Russians and for technical maintenance.

AP reminded that last week, Russian Telegram channels published photos showing vehicles resembling North Korean 170-mm self-propelled guns M1989 Koksan being transported by rail within Russia. The exact number of such equipment provided to Russia is currently unknown. However, the Financial Times recently reported, citing Ukrainian intelligence, that approximately 50 units of 170-mm howitzers and 20 240-mm MLRS had been transferred to the Russians.

“The artillery systems are the latest type of weaponry that North Korea is believed to have provided to Russia, as both countries significantly expand their military cooperation in the face of separate confrontations with the U.S. and its allies. Last month, the agency stated that since August 2023, North Korea has shipped over 13,000 containers of artillery, missiles, and other conventional weapons to Russia to replenish its dwindling stockpiles,” the report states.

It is worth noting that on November 2, intelligence reported the presence of over 7,000 North Korean soldiers near the Ukrainian border. The soldiers were transported using 28 military transport aircraft from Russia's Primorsky Krai and were provided with infantry equipment.

Earlier, on October 23, intelligence recorded the arrival of North Korean servicemen in Kursk. Overall, according to the GUR, the occupiers are preparing around 12,000 military personnel from North Korea, including 500 officers and three generals.

On November 5, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the first encounters between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and North Korean troops in Kursk. According to Rustem Umerov, the North Korean soldiers were disguised as Buryats and mixed in with Russians, making it necessary to conduct identification procedures to confirm the exact number of their casualties and prisoners of war.