During one of the parades in 2017, the North Korean regime demonstrated an anti-aircraft missile system that visually looked like a copy of the russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system and was designated as KN-6, or Pongae-5. Apparently, North Korea was unable to start mass production of such a SAM system, so it needed direct supplies of air defense equipment from russia.
Anyway, this is how the message from South Korean intelligence, referenced by The War Zone in its publication, can be explained. It is noted that in exchange for the participation of DPRK soldiers in hostilities against the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Kremlin regime supplied North Korea with air defense systems.
Read more: russia Seeks to Sell Yak-130M as a Light Attack Aircraft to Traditional Clients
It should be emphasized that the supply of air defense systems to North Korea is not the only form of "payment" from the Kremlin. It is noteworthy that the North Korean regime has decided to upgrade the ground-based component of its air defense, which relies on outdated Soviet S-75, S-125 and S-200 air defense systems.
What kind of air defense systems russia supplies to the DPRK is currently unknown. There is only speculation that russians could have provided North Korea with S-300/400 or Pantsir systems.
At the same time, the mention of the North Korean KN-6 project is quite relevant, as it illustrates the context in which North Korea may have requested the transfer of modern air defense systems from russia.
Speaking of KN-06 system, also known as Pongae-5, there is very little publicly available data. In particular, there is information that this system has a confirmed range of up to 150 kilometers, with the warhead weight of the anti-aircraft missile ranging from 120 to 200 kilograms. The battery composition may include three or four launchers, one radar, and one control vehicle.
At the same time, CSIS made some interesting comparisons in its materials: the only difference between the KN-06 and the S-300 is the type of chassis used - KamAZ instead of MAZ, and this is logical. Especially considering that since 2007, a joint plant for the production of wheeled chassis has been operating in the North Korean city of Pyeongsong in collaboration with KamAZ.
It is interesting to note that although the first presentation of the KN-06 took place back in 2010, North Korea was able to finally put this system into operation only in 2017. For all these seven years, this SAM system has been undergoing testing and improvements.
The exact number of KN-06 systems produced is currently unknown. It is believed that such systems were deployed to cover Sohae Satellite Launching Station in North Pyongan Province.
Earlier Defense Express reported that satellite had revealed expansion of KN-23 production facilities in North Korea.
Read more: North Korea Produces Only Metal for Its KN-23 Ballistic Missiles, but russia Uses Them for Terror
