North Korean ballistic missiles, whose quality has often been questioned, are becoming increasingly precise. Attacks conducted using these weapons on Ukrainian positions are starting to yield significantly greater effects for the Russians than in 2024.

Though North Korean ballistic missiles account for only a small portion of Russia's missile strikes they carry a large warhead of up to one tonne and have a range of up to 800 km, the military source said. The Iskander-M, an equivalent Russian missile, carries a smaller payload and has a shorter range of 500 km.

North Korean ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine by Russian forces since late December have been far more precise than salvos of the weapons launched over the past year, two senior Ukrainian sources told Reuters.

North Korean soldiers have been “brought in again” to fight at the frontline in the Kursk region after reports that foreign soldiers were withdrawn following their mounting losses, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

North Korean soldiers had been missing from combat, fueling speculation they were pulled back after taking heavy losses.

This is almost certainly primarily due to heavy losses sustained during attacks against Ukrainian-held positions.” Reports differ on the scale of the losses but one put them as high as 4,000 North Korean soldiers killed or wounded.

The North Korean ballistic missiles, whose quality has often been questioned, are becoming increasingly precise. Attacks conducted using this weapon on Ukrainian positions are starting to yield significantly greater effects for the Russians than in 2024.