North Korean Hwasong-9 Ballistic Missiles Reportedly Used By Russia To Target Ukraine.

Credible reports have emerged indicating that North Korea’s Hwasong-9 medium-range ballistic missiles have been deployed against Ukrainian targets. According to an update shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Chuck Pfarrer, a former U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six leader and renowned military analyst, these North Korean missiles have been used on Ukrainian territory since November of last year.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Hwasong-9 is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by North Korea based on the Hwasong-6 (Scud-C) design. It is a mobile, surface-to-surface missile capable of striking targets up to 500-700 kilometers away . (Picture source: MDAA website)

Pfarrer's report highlights the potential deepening of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, with North Korea's provision of strategic missile support representing a notable escalation. North Korea's Hwasong-9 missiles are a critical component of its ballistic missile arsenal, developed indigenously from the earlier Hwasong-6, which is itself a variant of the Soviet-era Scud-C missile.

The Hwasong-9 is a mobile, surface-to-surface missile (SSM) capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. It was designed to improve on the Hwasong-6, which North Korea has had in its inventory for several decades. The Hwasong-9 has an estimated range of around 500-700 kilometers, allowing it to strike targets within short to medium distances.

The missile's mobility and versatility are key attributes, as it is mounted on a transport erector launcher (TEL), allowing for rapid repositioning and surprise launches. This development demonstrates North Korea’s long-standing strategy of adapting foreign technology, like the Scud-C, to suit its own military needs and ambitions. It also raises significant concerns about the ongoing transfer of military technologies between countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

North Korea has played a significant role in supplying munitions for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, reportedly providing about half of the large-caliber ammunition used on the battlefield in 2024. Ukrainian sources indicate that over 2 million rounds of ammunition were supplied, alongside KN-23 ballistic missiles, which were utilized in dozens of strikes across Ukraine during the winter of 2023-2024. In May 2024, the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed through debris analysis that Russia was indeed deploying North Korean missiles, following a summit between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in September 2023.

The deployment of the Hwasong-9 against Ukraine marks the first clear instance of North Korea’s military involvement in the conflict. The specific targets struck by these missiles remain unclear, but such an involvement suggests a growing alignment between Russia and North Korea, particularly in military terms. This alliance has been developing since the start of the war, with Russia reportedly seeking North Korean arms and ammunition to bolster its military supplies, strained by more than a year and a half of intense fighting in Ukraine.

For Ukraine, the addition of a new type of ballistic missile to the conflict adds another layer of complexity to its defense strategy. Ukraine has largely relied on air defense systems provided by Western allies to intercept Russian missile strikes. However, the inclusion of North Korean systems, such as the Hwasong-9, will likely force Ukraine to adapt further, as it is unfamiliar with North Korean missile technology.