That is according to Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR), in an interview with Ukrinform.
Specifically, North Korea’s army is gaining combat experience it has lacked since the 1950s and is also improving its weaponry.
“The most interesting fact that I suggest you dwell on is the use of North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles. Their first launches showed low precision, with deviations from target ranging above 1.5 km. Russian experts joined their specialists at factories, did some upgrades and modernizations, and now these missiles do hit their target,” Budanov stated.
Furthermore, North Korean forces have been introduced to drone technology, which they had no prior experience with. This knowledge will now return to North Korea, leading to military modernization and retraining. Budanov warned that this poses a new threat to the Pacific region.
In response to North Korea’s involvement in the war against Ukraine, Ukraine’s intelligence agency has intensified cooperation and information exchange with South Korean intelligence.
“We slightly intensified cooperation with South Korea when North Korean troops started arriving in Russia. We gladly share data on North Korean activities and receive information from them in return. It’s a normal working process,” Budanov explained.
According to Budanov, Russia’s military partnership with North Korea is humiliating for a country that claims to be a global leader.
“In fact, this is humiliating for the Russian Federation as someone almost claiming the role of a world power, or at least the world’s second most powerful army.,” he said.
Previously, Budanov stated that North Korea supplies 50% of Russia’s ammunition for its war against Ukraine. In addition, North Korea has started delivering significant amounts of heavy weaponry, including 170mm self-propelled howitzers, 240mm multiple rocket launch systems
So far, Russia has received 120 units of each system, which have been modernized to improve their accuracy. This year, North Korea is expected to deliver another 148 such systems to Russia.
Source: Budanov reveals North Korea's maximum gains from cooperation with Russia
