The 412th NEMESIS Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Force has, for the first time, successfully struck a North Korean M1989 Koksan self-propelled gun used by the Russian Army on the front lines.
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According to information released by the regiment’s press office, the artillery unit was hit in the Luhansk region with the help of a nighttime bomber drone.
This marks the first confirmed destruction of an M1989 Koksan during the Russo-Ukrainian war.
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North Korean Artillery on the Frontline
Movements of North Korean M1989 Koksan artillery systems through Russian territory were recorded in November and December 2024. However, these units were first observed in direct operation on the battlefield in January 2025, under the command of Russian artillery crews.
The presence of these systems further confirms the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, bolstering Russia’s long-range artillery capabilities in the ongoing conflict.
M1989 Koksan Specifications
The M1989 Koksan is a 40-ton self-propelled artillery system developed in North Korea and was first publicly displayed during a military parade in Koksan in 1989.
Equipped with a 170 mm gun, the M1989 has an impressive range, capable of hitting targets up to 40 km with conventional shells and up to 60 km with rocket-assisted munitions.
However, its rate of fire is relatively low, with the ability to fire only 1 to 2 rounds every 5 minutes.
Koksan vs. Russian Artillery
Currently, the M1989 Koksan surpasses all conventional barrel artillery systems used by Russia on the front line in terms of range.
The only comparable artillery system is the 2S7 Pion, a Soviet-era 203 mm self-propelled gun, which can only match Koksan’s range when using rocket-assisted projectiles.
Sources: Telegram @nemesis_412 / mil.in.ua. This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
