Russia strike that killed eight in Ukraine used North Korean missile, report says

At least eight people were killed in Kyiv overnight during a significant Russian aerial assault. The missile struck a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district, west of Kyiv’s center.

Officials on site reported that around 10 people were still missing by morning, with some potentially trapped under the rubble. The strike was carried out using a North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile, Reuters cited a Ukrainian military source as saying on Thursday (April 24).

The Kremlin has refrained from directly commenting on the attack, stating only that “military and military-adjacent” targets were hit. Both Russia and North Korea have denied engaging in weapons transfers that would breach UN embargoes.

Russia’s military cooperation with North Korea

Since Russia’s international isolation following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, military cooperation with North Korea has significantly increased. Ukraine asserts that North Korea has supplied Russia with extensive artillery shells, rocket systems, thousands of troops, and ballistic missiles, which Moscow has been using in strikes against Ukraine since late 2023.

The KN-23 missiles, also known as Hwasong-11A, equipped with warheads weighing up to one tonne, are reportedly more powerful than their Russian counterparts, according to the Ukrainian source. While the Ukrainian military has not officially confirmed the missile type, Kyiv’s post-attack report stated that seven ballistic missiles were used, broadly identifying them as Iskander-M/KN-23.

The KN-23 North Korean short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) has garnered significant attention due to its advanced capabilities. Its visual resemblance to the Russian 9K720 Iskander-M missile has led to speculation about foreign assistance in its development.

Its range is between 450 km and 690 km, depending on the payload.

North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict has raised concerns not only in European capitals but also among South Korea and its allies in Asia, who worry that wartime strategies might one day be used against them.

With inputs from Reuters