A U.S. intelligence agency on Thursday released an analysis report confirming Russia’s use of North Korean ballistic missiles in its war against Ukraine, as Pyongyang has denied weapons transactions with Moscow.
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published the report on its visual comparison of pictures from Pyongyang’s state media and missile debris found in Ukraine in January to conclude that the debris is “almost certainly” of a North Korean short-range missile.
The report came about two weeks after Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, claimed that the “hostile forces” are misleading the public opinion with a “false rumor” that the regime’s weapons are for exports to Russia.
In the report, DIA compared ballistic missiles seen in photos about the North Korean leader’s tour of a missile plant in August with the images of debris found in Kharkiv in January.
The report showed that the forward motor section from a North Korea system seen in a North Korean media photo m
atched the physical characteristics shown in images of missile debris in Ukraine. It also said the aft motor section from a North Korean system matched the characteristics shown in missile debris.
This image, captured from an analysis report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, shows the agency’s comparison of a North Korean media image and an image of missile debris found in Ukraine. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Moreover, the report highlighted that the cable tray and handling ring connectors’ proportions from the North Korean state media image are “identical” to those shown in the missile debris from the attack in Kharkiv.
This image, captured from an analysis report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, shows the agency’s comparison of a North Korean media image and an image of missile debris found in Ukraine. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
“Through careful analysis of open-source imagery DIA analysts confirms the debris found in Kharkiv on Jan. 2, 2024 is missile debris from a DPRK short range
missile,” DIA said in a release.
“The report highlights the evolving and strengthening relationship between North Korea and Russia,” it added.
The report said that the North has provided Russia with direct materiel support, including at least 3 million artillery rounds in addition to dozens of ballistic missiles to sustain Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“In return, Moscow has provided Pyongyang with both diplomatic support at the U.N. by vetoing sanctions enforcement mechanisms and the opportunity to gain insight into how DPRK-made ballistic missiles perform in combat, including against advanced missile defense systems,” it said.
DPRK stands for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Washington has revealed that Pyongyang has shipped over 10,000 containers of munitions or munition-related materials to Russia since September, in addition to its missile shipments.
In return, the North has been seeking assistance from Moscow, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, arm
ored vehicles and ballistic missile production equipment, in exchange for its provision of ballistic missiles, munitions and other arms, according to U.S. officials.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
