Ukraine has claimed that North Korea is currently operating Russian-provided Pantsir-S1 defense systems to secure its airspace.
Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the Ukrainian military intelligence arm (HUR), told local news agency Hromadske Radio that the weapons are stationed in Pyongyang and have already been activated for potential use.
Budanov also claimed that Moscow is collaborating with the East Asian country’s military to heighten their familiarity with the capability.
“I can tell you that the first Pantsir S-1 installations have already appeared in Pyongyang,” Budanov explained.
“They are already on combat duty there, guarding their capital. And the Russians are retraining Korean personnel, and soon the Koreans will be working autonomously on this technology.”
In the interview, Budanov said the recent movement in North Korea signals deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, highlighting North Korea’s evolving weapons technology and military strength through their alliance.
North Korea has become a key ally to Russia in its three-year invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow offering defense support in exchange for North Korean troops, equipment, and services.
In June, HUR found that Russia is planning to help North Korea’s military industrial base establish local production of Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones. These drones have been effective for Moscow in its strikes on Ukraine.
Russia’s Pantsir-S1
The Pantsir-S1 was first introduced in the 1990s by Russia’s state-owned KBP Instrument Design Bureau and has been in Moscow’s military inventory since 2012.
Similar to America’s Patriot defense system, the Pantsir-S1 consists of a missile launcher, a radar, and a command post, which operate as one to effectively maintain aerial interception over specific installations, battalions, and other critical infrastructure.
It is managed by a crew of three, and employs surface-to-air missiles with high-explosive fragmentation effects against incoming warheads, aircraft, and drones.
The technology can monitor threats over a 75-kilometer (46-mile) radius and is capable of hitting targets at up to 30 kilometers (19 miles), depending on the missiles used.
