North Korea’s long-range self-propelled artillery, known as the Juche-po, has been spotted in Russian urban areas, raising concerns about the imminent deployment of North Korean weapon systems on the Ukrainian battlefield.
On Friday, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that images of the 170mm self-propelled artillery developed by North Korea have been circulating on Russian and Ukrainian social media platforms.
The artillery’s appearance, wheels, and side numbering in the photos closely resemble the advanced model of the Juche-po M-1989 that North Korea showcased during a 2018 military parade.
The Krasnoyarsk region, where the artillery was sighted, is approximately 4,400 kilometers (2,735 miles) from Kursk, where North Korean troops have reportedly been deployed recently.
Speculation about Russia’s acquisition of North Korean Juche-po has been circulating for some time. Notably, discussions about ammunition and M-1989 purchases were rumored to have taken place during Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to North Korea last July for the 70th anniversary of the country’s Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War (the signing date of the Korean War armistice).
Lee Il Woo, director of the Self-Defense Network, stated that Russia has suffered significant losses in artillery weapons with ranges exceeding 18.6 miles on the battlefield. Consequently, Russia may have no choice but to rely on North Korea’s outdated weaponry. Lee predicted North Korea’s role in the Ukraine conflict will likely expand in the coming months.