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According to “Bloomberg”, the “Patriot” air defense system available to the Armed Forces of Ukraine is still very effective against Russian missiles.
“The Patriot system must be able to intercept North Korean ballistic missiles,” said Shaan Sheikh, a research fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
In early January, the White House reported at least two cases in which the territory of Ukraine was attacked by North Korean missiles. One of the projectiles hit Zaporizhzhia, while the other missile was aimed at Kharkiv. However, experts are skeptical about the possibilities of North Korean missiles to change the course of the war, because “the occupiers are known for the fraternal support of Pyongyang and do not deny that North Korean missiles very often do not reach their targets at all.”
Experts believe Kim’s military has test-fired more than 120 of his missiles since 2019 and his stockpile may now number in the thousands. The value of one rocket could be around five million dollars. That is why selling weapons to North Korea is one of the most important sources of income that the sanctioned North Korean economy urgently needs.
It is not yet known whether the Kremlin will receive the requested help, but Russia’s war against Ukraine is an opportunity for North Korea to test its missiles in real combat conditions. Commercial considerations are just one of the reasons why Kim agreed to supply missiles to Russia – he is interested in information about what the weapons made in his country are actually capable of, which can help the Kim regime develop its strategy for future operations and improve possible attacks.
In parallel, Kim is seeking to further modernize his arsenal, with his regime set to begin testing a new type of warhead from 2024. According to Kim, these warheads are designed for medium-range missiles and are intended to attack both Japanese military bases and the US base in Guam.
Similar to Ukraine, the main element of the air defense system of South Korea and Japan is the “Patriot” system. It is equipped with a powerful radar that can track up to 100 targets, including cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft.
There are concerns that North Korea’s missile deliveries will cause its inventory of Patriot missiles to shrink. In January, NATO members committed to increasing missile production.
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