New video confirms North Korea provided M1991 240mm rocket launchers to Russia to fight against Ukraine.

A video shared by ButusovPlus on April 20, 2025, has confirmed for the first time the presence of North Korea’s M1991 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) in Russian service. Published on April 20, 2025, by Ukrainian military journalist Yurii Butusov, the footage shows Russian servicemen installing improvised anti-drone protection on an M1991 system inside what appears to be a hangar. Although intelligence reports have long stated that these systems were transferred from North Korea to Russia, this video serves as the first visual verification of their operational use.
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The Pyonghwa Motors General Factory in Nampo City has been identified as a production site for North Korea’s 240mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), including updated variants of the M1991. (Picture source: Telegram/ButusovPlus and KCNA)

According to statements by Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Russia had received 120 M1991 units from North Korea by January 2025 and was expected to receive another batch of a similar size in the near future. Ukrainian officials, including Lt. Andriy Kovalenko from the Center for Countering Disinformation, reported that the first transfer occurred on November 29, 2024, as part of a broader delivery that also included over 100 units of North Korean military equipment. These reportedly included M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers, KN-23 ballistic missiles, and over five million artillery shells. The delivery was described as a measure to compensate for Russia’s extensive artillery losses in Ukraine since February 2022.

Since 2022, the presence of North Korean arms in Ukraine has expanded. In addition to the artillery and rocket systems, reports from 2024 indicated that over 10,000 North Korean nationals were deployed to Russia, some near the front lines. Their roles ranged from logistical support to technical maintenance. In June 2024, a strategic partnership treaty was signed between North Korea and Russia, which was later ratified by Pyongyang in November 2024. Following this agreement, additional shipments were confirmed, including 50 M1989 howitzers and 20 upgraded 240mm MLRS units deployed in Russia’s Kursk region.

The M1991’s utility in Ukraine is tied to its area suppression role. Russia’s losses of MLRS units and high demand for replacement systems have made the M1991 a viable option despite its lack of precision. Russian MLRS such as the BM-21 Grad, BM-27 Uragan, and BM-30 Smerch also rely on unguided rockets, and the M1991 performs a similar function. Its integration into Russian operations is part of a larger pattern of acquiring artillery from external partners to sustain prolonged conflict.

The Pyonghwa Motors General Factory in Nampo City has been identified as a production site for North Korea’s 240mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), including updated variants of the M1991. This includes models intended for domestic deployment between 2024 and 2026, as well as potential export. In May 2024, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the facility, where he personally drove one of the newly manufactured launcher vehicles on site and observed the test-firing of guided rockets described as a technically updated version of the 240mm system. North Korean state media reported that the rockets hit their targets during the tests, and that these systems would be delivered to combined units of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), specifically assigned to operations in the western region. The test-firing followed a prior inspection of multiple arms production sites, including factories producing sniper rifles and artillery vehicles.

In May 2024, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the facility, where he personally drove one of the newly manufactured launcher vehicles on site and observed the test-firing of guided rockets described as a technically updated version of the M240mm system. (Picture source: KCNA)

The factory was originally completed on April 6, 2002, and was initially established as a civilian automotive plant under the name Pyonghwa Motors. It was located in Nampo’s port district, adjacent to the Pyongyang-Nampo highway and near Sinnampo Station. The project began as part of inter-Korean cooperation, involving both North Korean and South Korean partners. At the time of its inauguration, attended by over 3,000 people despite rainy weather, South Korean representatives included figures from the Korean Cultural Foundation and the Mount Kumgang International Group. North Korean officials from the Asia-Pacific Peace Committee also participated. During the opening ceremony, the South Korean side introduced a plan to produce passenger cars, including the Fiat Siena (1.6L engine), along with vehicles such as buses, ambulances, fire trucks, and refuse collection vehicles. The facility was also expected to manufacture and export vehicle components.

The plant was visited again in 2007 by South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun during the inter-Korean summit with Kim Jong-il. At that time, the factory was still viewed as a cooperative initiative. However, subsequent developments indicated a transition in its function. By the 2010s, the site was reportedly restructured for military purposes. Production infrastructure at the plant includes an automated assembly line and conveyor-based processing systems. The layout and configuration have been compared to other North Korean arms production sites, such as the Pyongyang tracked vehicle plant. According to various analyses, the facility appears to have undergone a gradual conversion into a munitions production base.

This shift was confirmed in 2024 when North Korean state media published photographs showing Kim Jong-un inspecting the upgraded 240mm launcher system. External analysts, including Jeffrey Lewis, conducted image verification using satellite imagery and reference photos, confirming that the location shown in the state media corresponded to the Pyonghwa Motors General Factory. Specific features such as red containers visible on site were used as reference points, and it was noted that those containers had been in place for several years. Additional imagery taken from different perspectives further confirmed the identification.

The M1991 system, which North Korea previously showcased during tests in May 2023, is designed to fire unguided 240mm spin-stabilized rockets. Each rocket weighs approximately 497 kilograms, including a 90-kilogram warhead, and the launcher can fire a full salvo of 22 rockets in approximately 45 seconds. The rockets have a firing range between 40 and 60 kilometers, with unconfirmed claims of newer variants reaching up to 120 kilometers. The M1991 uses a road-mobile 6x6 truck chassis, including Romanian Roman models and licensed Chinese variants such as the Shacman Steyr 6x6 and Hongyang 6x6, among others. These platforms allow for rapid deployment, with a stated readiness time of two minutes, a firing cycle of under one minute, and a withdrawal time of six minutes.

The M1991 rocket launcher system, which exists in several variants, is designed to fire unguided 240mm spin-stabilized rockets at a range between 40 and 60 kilometers (Picture source: KCNA)

Technical adaptations by North Korea include reinforcing imported civilian truck chassis, adding hydraulic stabilizers, and installing launcher rails. Models such as the CQ15250, CQ19210, CQ25290, and CQ30290 have been repurposed for this use. These adaptations reflect North Korea’s strategy of acquiring ostensibly civilian vehicles to bypass arms embargoes. According to South Korean sources, Chinese manufacturers have produced licensed Roman vehicles, enabling the procurement of such platforms through indirect supply chains. The Roman company, a Romanian truck and bus manufacturer, has sold vehicles to various countries, and China’s Hongyang Truck Manufacturing Company is known to produce them under license.

North Korean sources report that the M1991 belongs to an artillery brigade known as "Jangsa Jeongpo," which is positioned along the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This unit is tasked with maintaining readiness to engage targets across the border. The M1991 is one of several long-range artillery systems used by North Korea for area bombardment. It is deployed alongside the 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzer and the 300mm KN-09 MLRS. These systems are typically located in hardened or semi-hardened positions and are capable of launching coordinated strikes. According to South Korean Army manuals, the M1991 has a 19-minute operational exposure window, which includes five minutes to open the cave gate, two minutes to prepare, one minute to fire, and six minutes to move. This makes the M1991 more mobile and harder to target than the 170mm Koksan system, which has a 34-minute exposure window.

The system’s range capabilities allow it to reach key areas in South Korea, including the entire Seoul metropolitan region, parts of Incheon, Incheon Airport, Bucheon, Anyang, and Siheung. With extended-range munitions, it may also be capable of reaching deeper into South Korean territory. The M1991 is considered an evolution of the M1985 and M1989 systems, themselves derived from the Soviet BM-24. Although older M1985 and M1989 systems are mostly held in reserve or relegated to secondary roles, the M1991 remains in frontline use, with an estimated 430 units reportedly operational. It is used for area suppression and has been assessed to carry not only high-explosive payloads but also smoke, incendiary, and potentially chemical warheads.

In May 2023, North Korea displayed a renewed version of the 240mm launcher mounted on a Czech Tatra truck chassis. The system was tested with improved munitions and was reportedly driven by Kim Jong-un himself during a demonstration along a highway. North Korea announced plans to replace older systems with this updated version between 2024 and the end of 2026. North Korean state media referred to the system as a “renewed 240mm MLRS” without confirming an official designation. The new version is believed to incorporate upgrades in payload and launcher electronics, although exact specifications remain unverified.

The M1991 has also been exported. Iran is known to operate modified variants of the earlier M1985 system under the name Fajr-3. Uganda and Angola have been reported to operate the M1991 and M1989 respectively. Reports suggest Myanmar may also possess some units. The use of these systems by multiple foreign operators indicates that North Korea has actively pursued export opportunities despite international sanctions, often disguising military sales through civilian intermediaries. The presence of the M1991 in Ukraine and its confirmed use by Russian forces illustrates the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. It reflects the broader strategic alignment that has developed since North Korea recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in July 2022. Subsequent arms transfers, personnel deployments, and treaty agreements have further entrenched this partnership, resulting in expanded support for Russian operations in Ukraine.