Ukraine Hates North Korea’s Superheavy Artillery: New Footage Shows 170mm Guns in Frontline Action

New footage has shown North Korean 170mm self-propelled howitzers firing in Ukraine, providing further evidence that the unusual very long range artillery systems are being actively employed in the theatre. It remains uncertain from footage whether the systems were operated by Russian Army or Korean People’s Army units, as while it has been confirmed that the former has procured them in significant numbers, the latter has also deployed personnel to the frontlines which may have been involved in artillery operations. The 170mm guns highlight the increasingly important role of North Korean weapons in sustaining Russia’s artillery capabilities, and the growing advantages which the country’s defence sector achieved over Russia in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s disintegration.

Providing insight into the capabilities of the 170mm guns, referred to in the West as the ‘Koksan,’ Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov in 2025 observed: “Unfortunately, this gun is demonstrating itself quite well in battle. It’s firing from quite a long range, and it’s quite good in terms of accuracy.” “We have data that the Russian Federation was provided 120 pieces. But I think that supply will continue because these guns are demonstrating themselves quite well. This is unfortunate for us because this is artillery for long-range firing,” he added. 120 guns would in North Korean service equip approximately four army artillery regiments. 

170mm is not a standard Russian artillery calibre, with Russia’s principal self-propelled artillery systems, such as the 2S19 Msta-S, using 152mm ammunition, while the much heavier 2S7M Malka uses 203mm shells. The Koksan therefore requires a separate ammunition supply chain, making its deployment closely connected to North Korea’s ability to provide both artillery systems and compatible ammunition. While the 2S7M Malka is a heavier system, it was designed to maximise destructive impact to penetrate fortifications, rather than to maximise range, which combined with its much more limited numbers and higher cost means it cannot impact the situation on the frontlines as the North Korean artillery systems can.

North Korea’s fielding of by far the world’s largest artillery force has led both Russian and overseas analysts to assess artillery to be an area where support from the country would be particularly valued in the Ukrainian theatre. The Russian Army was by the end of 2024 already estimated to have received up to 9 million rounds of 122mm and 152mm artillery from the country, with the transfer of 170mm guns allowing for a third calibre to be sold. Newer images have confirmed the adoption of 60mm and 140mm mortars for use in frontline Russian Army units. At least six Russian artillery units by early 2025 sourced between 50 and 100 percent of their munitions from North Korea.

In a previous assessment on October 31, 2024, Military Watch highlighted the possibility that the 170mm guns could join the ongoing Russian war effort, just two weeks before the first images confirmed their arrival in Russia. Subsequent batches were filmed arriving in mid-December.  North Korea has long stood out for the advanced capabilities and vast scale of its artillery forces, and having achieved a very long range for its 170mm guns using very basic Cold War era munitions, should the guns have integrated 21st century rocket propelled rounds they would very likely have range of over 100 kilometres. North Korea has continued to modernise the lower tiers of its artillery forces, including with the introduction of its first 155mm howitzers.