Conflict Arms Research (CAR) finds that ballistic missiles manufactured by North Korea and launched by Russia in Ukraine contain more than 290 non-domestic electronic components, mostly from US-based companies did.
Interfax-Ukrainian news agency quoted Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin as saying that between December 30, 2023 and February 7, 2024, the Russian military launched at least 24 North Korean-derived ballistic missiles into Ukraine. reported to have attacked. These attacks left 14 civilians dead and over 70 injured.
The CAR's 13th deployment marks the first public demonstration that North Korea relies on non-domestic technology in its missile program since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The missile, believed to be a KN-23 or KN-24, was recorded by a CAR field investigation team in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, after the attack on January 2, 2024.
Russia's Kharkov attack claims first casualty: 91-year-old woman dies
Apart from that, 24 women and 15 men were injured.28 people, including 3 children, hospitalized
📷 Chief Executive of Kharkov Obur Mir Sinievov pic.twitter.com/9OABipSqZP
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 2, 2024
According to the CAR document, 75% of the components are related to companies established in the United States, 16% to European companies and 9% to Asian companies. The organization plans to send tracking requests to these companies to further investigate their acquisition networks.
“CAR is involved in the manufacture of these parts, with headquarters in eight jurisdictions (China, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States) from the marks observed on these parts. We identified 26 companies,” the report said.
CAR's findings highlight the challenges of export controls for commercial electronic components and the dependence on global semiconductor industries such as North Korea, Iran and Russia. Many of the missile components were manufactured within the past three years, suggesting that North Korea has developed a robust procurement network that allows it to circumvent international sanctions.
North Korea's missiles have a large proportion of recently manufactured non-domestic electronic components, and despite UN Security Council sanctions in place since 2006, the country is unable to produce advanced weapons. It suggests that it could be transferred to the Russian Federation. Concerns regarding the effectiveness of the global non-proliferation regime and the challenges associated with export controls for commercial semiconductor components.
Analyst: Russian oil money turns North Korea into an 'ideal military factory'
The findings also highlight the importance of on-the-ground documentation and monitoring in the effectiveness of export control and sanctions mechanisms. The global nature of the semiconductor industry and dependence on third-country distribution channels highlights the need for greater vigilance in export controls and sanctions compliance.
On February 7, Russia attacked Kharkiv with five missiles, two of them North Korean-made, according to Serhiy Volbinov, the head of the Kharkiv regional police. Preliminary findings by experts indicate that these are North Korean KN-23 (Hwasong-11GA) missiles.
A South Korean-made KN-23 missile may have been among the six ballistic missiles Russia launched against Ukraine on the morning of February 15, according to a report on the missile downing by the Ukrainian Air Force. .
According to the New York Times, intelligence officials from U.S. allies say the Russian government may be seeking to help North Korea gain access to the international financial system in exchange for missiles and ammunition. Although the extent of Russia's military technology provision to North Korea remains unclear, the establishment of new banking ties signals deepening ties between the two countries. Russia has reportedly authorized the release of $9 million of North Korea's $30 million in frozen assets held in Russian financial institutions. The money was meant to be used by the economically struggling country to buy oil.
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