Ukraine Will Freak: North Korean Armored Vehicles Now Being Used by Russia
The prospect of South Korean and North Korean military platforms facing off in Europe is becoming increasingly likely as South Korea's K2 Black Panther tanks have been adopted by NATO member Poland, and North Korean-made weapons are now appearing in Ukraine.
Summary and Key Points: The prospect of South Korean and North Korean military platforms facing off in Europe is becoming increasingly likely as South Korea's K2 Black Panther tanks have been adopted by NATO member Poland, and North Korean-made weapons are now appearing in Ukraine.
-North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with the Bulsae-4 M-2018, a self-propelled long-range anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) mobile launcher.
-This vehicle, based on the chassis of the M-2010 APC, was recently spotted near Kharkiv.
North Korean Weapons in Ukraine: Pyongyang’s Bulsae-4 ATGM Debuts on the Battlefield
Even if a "Second Korean War" doesn't break out on the Asian peninsula, it is increasingly likely that the latest military platforms developed by the two respective Korean nations could face off – but in Europe. In recent years, South Korea has emerged as a military hardware exporter, developing everything from small arms to the K2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT), which has already been adopted by NATO member Poland.
North Korea's arms industry isn't quite as robust as that of its southern neighbor, yet, it is now reported to be supplying weapons to Russia. That fact serves to highlight both the strides Pyongyang has made with its domestic military capabilities and also the Kremlin's desperation.
For decades, North Korea relied on Soviet and Chinese military hardware, with some of it dating back to just after the Korean War. Now, it is North Korea that is aiding Moscow as Russia continues to be bogged down in its ongong war in Ukraine.
It was just this week that Ukrainian forces reported spotting the North Korean-made Bulsae-4 M-2018 in the Kharkiv region. The self-propelled long-range anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) mobile launcher is noted for employing the chassis of the M-2010 2+4 all-wheeled drive armored personnel carrier (APC), a North Korean variant of the Soviet-designed BTR-80. The rotating launcher is equipped with eight missile containers, and is reported to be able to engage targets at distances beyond 10 km (six miles) – while its maximum range could be upwards of 25 km (15 miles).
"(The Bulsae-4) is powered by a gutsy diesel engine which, combined with its unusual wheel layout, gives it relatively good cross country and rough terrain capability. It is said to have a maximum road speed of approximately 90 kph (55 mph) and an operational range of around 500 kilometers (310 miles)," explained Steve Brown, a retired British Army officer writing for the Kyiv Post.
Serial production is believed to have begun in 2018, but the total number built to date is unknown.
North Korean Platform in Ukraine
The presence of a Bulsae-4 near Kharkiv was noted by open-source military watchers on social media on Tuesday. It is unclear when, or even how many of the vehicles have been provided to Moscow. While it is unlikely to be a significant game changer, it could certainly help the Kremlin's war effort – as there have been reports Russia is scraping the bottom of the barrel of its Cold War-era tanks and other vehicles.
"If North Korea really is providing armored vehicles to Russia, it might help solve one of Russia's biggest battlefield problems as its wider war on Ukraine grinds toward its 29th month: a shortage of purpose-made combat vehicles," wrote David Axe for Forbes, adding, "A Bulsae-4 performs the same mission that Ukraine and Russia's dismounted anti-tank missile teams performdefeating enemy tanksbut does it with greater speed, mobility and protection."
It is possible, and perhaps even likely, that Pyongyang provided just a handful for testing in battlefield conditions.
"This would enable Pyongyang to obtain data on any necessary improvements and for Russian forces to assess its potential on the Ukrainian battlefield," Brown added.
It will be only a matter of time to see whether the Bulsae-4 performs any better than other APCs in Ukraine.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Main image is of a North Korean tank. All images are Creative Commons.
