Russian troops accidentally destroy North Korean air defense, exposing secret military deliveries to Russia

According to military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko, there are several crucial points to consider in this situation. 

First, Kovalenko marks an expansion in the range of military equipment that North Korea is supplying to Russia. The following types of weaponry have been confirmed as having been delivered from North Korea to Russia:

•  Bulsae-4/5 ("불새-4/5") – mobile anti-tank guided missile system;
•  M1989 Koksan - 170-mm self-propelled artillery;
•  M1985/M1991 - 240-mm multiple rocket launcher systems;
•  KN-15 – medium-range ballistic missile.

And now, the expert writes, the Pongae M-2020 air defense system, whose transfer was not reported by either Western or South Korean intelligence, adds another layer to this situation.

These systems were delivered and deployed so discreetly that it remained unknown until the Ryazan marginal group destroyed one of them. Interestingly, the KN-15 missile deliveries were only confirmed after they had already been verified on Russian soil. This suggests that there are logistical supply routes between North Korea and Russia that both Western and South Korean intelligence have failed to detect, which is deeply troubling, the observer stresses.

Kovalenko argues that this indicates Russia is facing a severe air defense shortage. Although this is already well understood, the shortage of air defense systems has become one of Russia's most pressing challenges. North Korea is supplying exactly what Russia needs the most, highlighting the difficulties Russia faces in replenishing its losses. First, it was artillery shells, followed by manpower shortages, then a lack of artillery, ballistic missiles, and now, air defense systems.

The expert concludes by noting that the system is an exact replica of the Tor-M2 missile defense system launcher, which was showcased during the 2020 parade in Pyongyang for the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea. At the time, many dismissed the possibility of technology transfers from Russia to North Korea, considering it merely a cardboard mockup. Yet, as demonstrated with the KN-23/KN-24 missiles that flew over Kharkiv, many of these so-called "cardboard mockups" have proven to be real combat equipment.

• The Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KSIFE) examined fragments of several North Korean KN-23 missiles used by Russia in strikes against Ukraine