Military engineers and scientists from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted laboratory studies of fragments of North Korean ballistic missiles KN-23 and KN-24, which Russia has repeatedly used during massive shelling of Ukrainian cities. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense, writes UNN.
Characteristics of KN-23 and KN-24
Analysis of missile fragments that fell in Kharkiv on January 2, 2024, confirmed parameters that match drawings from South Korean scientific publications.
North Korean missiles have a unique geometry. The diameter of the KN-23 is 110 cm at the rear, tapering to 90 cm at the front. The 110 cm indicator is not found in any other country in the world except the DPRK. The diameter of the KN-24 is about 100 cm, which is still found in the world.
Experts also compared the fragments with photographs from missile factories and found seven key similarities: from the number of holes for bolt fasteners of the nozzle to the presence of specific niches for satellite navigation receivers.
Are KN-23 and KN-24 missiles copies of Russian "Iskanders"?
Experts from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine concluded that KN-23 vs KN-24 are not direct copies of Soviet/Russian samples and are not manufactured "under license" of the Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile.
But there are signs that North Korea has refined a certain initial version of the Iskander ballistic missile developments.
Missiles from the DPRK use less energetic fuel. North Korean engines are larger and longer than their Russian counterparts (approximately 1.5 times) to provide a similar range.
At the same time, outdated methods are used in production: and the quality of soldering is approximately 50 years old.
Civilian components from leading brands were found in the control units. Pyongyang apparently purchases these chips bypassing sanctions.
To ensure the thermal resistance of the missile during movement in the atmosphere, along with the use of a heat-shielding coating on the warhead, a fairing made of graphite materials is installed. This relatively cheap solution was applied by North Korean designers rather due to the lack of access to more modern heat-shielding materials.
Meaning for the world
All specialized studies performed by military engineers and scientists of the Ministry of Defense are an integral part of forensic examination carried out by the relevant authorities.
These studies form the evidentiary basis for the investigation of war crimes and influence the formation of sanctions policy.
Despite the use of outdated technologies, these missiles, like all other ballistic means, are extremely inconvenient for air defense, and therefore pose a deadly danger to Ukrainians.