Ukrainian Attack on North Korean Howitzers Highlights Ongoing Conflict Dynamics

The Ukrainian 14th Regiment reportedly damaged three North Korean M1989 howitzers in a strike on March 18. Utilizing drone surveillance and HIMARS, Ukrainian forces deployed an M30 rocket that released submunitions affecting the artillery pieces. Despite ongoing conflicts leading to significant casualties for both sides, Ukraine continues to execute strategic drone and artillery operations against North Korean and Russian troops in Kursk.

Forbes reports that the Ukrainian 14th Regiment of Unmanned Aerial Systems may have successfully damaged three North Korean M1989 howitzers during a coordinated strike. This incident occurred on or around March 18, when drone operators identified three 170-millimeter guns concealed within treelines in Kursk Oblast, Russia. The drone team relayed the coordinates to a nearby Ukrainian battery equipped with High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

Using one of the approximately 40 HIMARS units supplied by the United States, the battery fired an M30 rocket, which detonated above the trees, dispersing hundreds of submunitions onto the M1989s and their crews. However, the extent of the damage remains uncertain. The M1989 Koksan, a heavy North Korean self-propelled artillery system introduced in 1989, boasts a 170 mm caliber and impressive range capabilities, with conventional shells reaching up to 40 kilometers and active-reactive rounds extending up to 60 kilometers.

Forbes indicates that North Korea has supplied Russia with a significant number of military vehicles, including M1989 howitzers, anti-tank missile vehicles, and air defense systems. Prior to this coordinated attack, Ukrainian forces had already managed to destroy one M1989 and multiple Bulsae-4 anti-tank launchers. Additionally, there was an incident where a Russian drone operator mistakenly destroyed one North Korean air defense system.

In the backdrop of this military activity, a substantial Ukrainian force held a salient in the region of Kursk until last week when a targeted strike by the Rubicon Center of Advanced Unmanned Systems devastated their supply line in Sudzha. A concurrent advance by North Korean troops tightened the Ukrainian position further, leading to a retreat that left behind valuable military assets. Nevertheless, Ukrainian drone operations and artillery assaults continued against Russian and North Korean forces in the vicinity.

Forbes describes the events in Kursk as a Pyrrhic victory for Russian and North Korean forces, likely leading to significant casualties and loss of equipment on both sides. Ukraine experienced substantial losses; however, they were described as comparatively lesser.

In conclusion, the coordinated strike by Ukrainian forces on North Korean M1989 howitzers highlights the ongoing conflict dynamics in the region. The involvement of advanced artillery systems such as HIMARS demonstrates the changing nature of warfare and the escalating exchange of fire between Ukrainian and North Korean forces. Despite casualties on both sides, the Ukrainian military continues to disrupt enemy operations, underscoring the resilience of their defense efforts amid challenging circumstances.

Original Source: euromaidanpress.com