North Korean ‘Koksan’ Artillery Guns Spotted in Crimea – Are Boots on the Ground Next?

North Korean artillery systems, specifically the powerful 170mm “Koksan” guns, have been spotted in Russian-occupied Crimea – potentially signaling Pyongyang’s growing involvement in the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine.

The Crimean Wind Telegram channel shared a photo on March 26 showing a military train in transit. The train was spotted at a railway station in northern Crimea, carrying 7-8 self-propelled artillery systems on flatbed railcars, along with military cargo, including a truck equipped with a crane.

The truck, identified as a Chinese Sinotruk Howo, had previously been seen in North Korea during military parades. Its exact purpose remains unclear.

Some sources speculated that the truck could be a transport-loading vehicle for the 240mm M1991 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), as reported by Militarniy. Alternatively, it could be supporting the North Korean M1989 Koksan self-propelled guns, potentially transporting 170mm artillery shells used by the system.

According to German broadcaster ZDF, these same weapons played a significant role in previous attacks on Ukrainian forces near Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

The Koksan’s extended range – up to 60 kilometers with rocket-assisted projectiles – makes them particularly dangerous, as only Ukraine’s HIMARS and GLSDB systems have the capacity to strike back. 

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Ukrainian forces have managed to destroy at least five of these systems using drones, but ZDF reports that North Korea may have sent up to 200 units to Russia.

Until now, DPRK ground forces have operated only within Russia’s internationally recognized borders, particularly in Kursk Oblast. While KN-23 (Hwasong-11) ballistic missiles of North Korean origin have hit Ukrainian cities, it remains unclear whether these were launched from Russian or occupied Ukrainian territory, the report reads.

The confirmed presence of Koksan artillery in Crimea – a part of Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 – marks a potential escalation in North Korea’s direct involvement in the war. 

According to ZDF, the move could be a prelude to deploying North Korean ground troops beyond their current zone of operation onto Ukrainian soil.

“Once the ‘Koksans’ are stationed in occupied Ukrainian territory, it is also highly likely that North Korean ground troops will appear there very soon as well,” the report said.

If such a deployment occurs, Pyongyang would definitely transition from being a supporter of Moscow’s regional objectives to an active belligerent in the invasion of Ukraine. This would challenge Russia’s narrative that North Korean support is limited to reclaiming its own “territory” in regions like Kursk.

ZDF warns that the artillery’s current positioning in Crimea allows for strikes on key Ukrainian cities such as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. The network speculates that the Koksans’ movement is likely part of preparations for a broader Russian spring offensive.

The first confirmed Ukrainian strike on a North Korean self-propelled gun took place on Dec. 18, 2024, in the Luhansk region and involved the use of a bomber drone.

At the end of this March, Ukraine destroyed another North Korean-made M-1978 “Koksan” in the Donetsk region, marking the fifth such strike in a month, the Unmanned Systems Force reported.

Since the full-scale invasion began, Ukraine has reportedly destroyed over 25,000 Russian artillery systems. With a growing shortage of barrel artillery, Russia has increasingly relied on Koksan SPGs supplied by North Korea.

By late 2024, analysts said North Korean-supplied shells made up over 50% – and in some areas, more than 70% – of Russian artillery use in eastern Ukraine.

Footage from November and December showed Koksan systems being transported by train through Russia, with Pyongyang delivering around 120 units to Moscow to offset its heavy losses.

On March 19, Ukraine’s 14th Separate Regiment posted a video of drones guiding a HIMARS strike on three Koksan SPGs hidden in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.