The Ukrainian 14th Regiment of Unmanned Aerial Systems may have damaged three North Korean M1989 howitzers in a single coordinated strike, Forbes reports. The regiment's drone operators spotted three tracked 170-millimeter guns hiding in treelines reportedly somewhere in Kursk Oblast in western Russia on or just before 18 March.
The M1989 Koksan is a heavy 40-ton North Korean self-propelled artillery system, first showcased during a parade in Koksan in 1989. Featuring a rare 170-mm caliber, its extended barrel allows for impressive range. Conventional shells can travel up to 40 km, while active-reactive rounds can reach distances of up to 60 km.
Forbes reports that Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with hundreds of vehicles, including M1989s, anti-tank missile vehicles, rocket launchers, and air defense systems.
Before the attack mentioned, Ukrainian drones and artillery had already destroyed at least one M1989 and several Bulsae-4 anti-tank launchers. In a mix-up, a Russian drone operator accidentally destroyed one of the North Korean air defense systems.
Forbes says Kursk was a Pyrrhic victory for the Russians and North Koreans, who likely suffered tens of thousands of casualties and lost hundreds of vehicles while forcing the Ukrainians to retreat. Ukrainian losses were significant but comparatively lighter.
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