Ukraine sees improved accuracy of N. Korean missile used by Russia

The margin of error in the missiles' landing point, which was at least 1 kilometer in 2024, had "narrowed to between 1 and 5 meters" by April this year, a Ukrainian defense intelligence official said, suggesting Russia had upgraded the weapons based on data gathered from their use in combat.

The latest analysis indicates that deeper defense cooperation between Russia and North Korea could pose a serious security threat to East Asia, with Pyongyang continuing to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

North Korea's short-range ballistic missiles could put all of South Korea and parts of Japan, including U.S. military bases there, within range.

North Korean missiles that showed improvement in their accuracy were KN-23, known for its similarity to Russia's Iskander, and KN-24, which resembles the U.S.-made surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile System.

When the missiles were first used in full-scale combat in Ukraine in early 2024, their margin of error was about 1 to 3 km, and many exploded midair.

As of the first half of 2024, Ukraine's top war crimes prosecutor said North Korean-made ballistic missiles launched by Russia into Ukraine were of "very low" quality, with an accuracy rate of only about 20 percent based on an analysis of missile debris.

The upgrade may have been achieved by improving the quality of the so-called inertial navigation system for guiding missiles, according to a military expert.

A total of at least 100 solid-fueled KN-23s and KN-24s have been used in Ukraine, leaving some 170 people dead or injured. They are believed to be capable of being fired rapidly and flying on irregular trajectories. North Korea has repeatedly conducted test launches of its missiles into the Sea of Japan.

Moscow and Pyongyang have been bolstering their military cooperation since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.