North Korea may provide Russia with 150 ballistic missiles, equal to Moscow’s stock of Iskanders

He stated this on the Espreso TV channel.

“It is worth noting that aid from North Korea has allowed Russia to sustain these combat operations over the past year. Experts estimate that up to 60% of the artillery ammunition comes from North Korea. According to various estimates, this aid amounts to between 4 million and 8 million pieces of ammunition, which is a significant addition. Regarding the 150 KN-23 ballistic missiles, it should be noted that a similar number has already been delivered to Russia, and most of these missiles have been used for strikes on Ukrainian cities to terrorize the population and exhaust our air defense systems,” the military expert emphasized.

According to him, North Korean KN-23 missiles are weapons that serve purely a terrorist purpose, as their use against specific military targets makes little sense due to their lack of precision.

“The intention to supply 150 missiles is a significant number, comparable to Russia’s operational stock of Iskander missiles. On average, it is estimated that the Russian military-industrial complex can produce 20 to 30 Iskander-class missiles per month. Accordingly, the supply of an additional 150 missiles can be used by the enemy in combined strikes to enable massive attacks with Iskanders. The fact that Russia has begun receiving a large number of artillery systems and MLRS (multiple launch rocket systems) from North Korea is also a troubling signal for us, but also for Russia itself, as it demonstrates that their own ammunition stockpiles and the capabilities of the Russian military-industrial complex are now being depleted,” Valerii Riabykh stressed.

• On January 23, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, reported that North Korea is likely to send Russia another 150 KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles and artillery systems this year.