Ukraine Deploys North Korean Rockets Against Russian Forces: Report

Kyiv: Ukrainian soldiers were reported using North Korean rockets allegedly acquired from a “friendly” country before reaching Ukraine, as per the Financial Times. Ukraine’s defence ministry claimed the weapons were seized from Russians. The United States has accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia, but evidence remains undisclosed, and North Korean weapons are not commonly seen in Ukrainian battlefields.

The North Korean weapons were showcased by Ukrainian troops operating Soviet-era Grad multiple-launch rocket systems near the war-torn city of Bakhmut. This location has been a site of intense fighting. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu recently visited Pyongyang, marking the first such visit by Moscow’s top defence official since the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.

During this visit, Shoigu was seen examining banned North Korean ballistic missiles with leader Kim Jong Un at a military expo, hinting at strengthened ties between the two countries amid their respective standoffs with the United States. Both North Korea and Russia have denied involvement in arms transactions.