After russian forces were first seen using North Korean man-portable mortars on the Ukrainian front in June, it was only a matter of time before associated ammunition appeared as well. Several photos of the rounds and their packaging have now been published by the Vodohrai online journal.
The shells themselves appear visually worn, though this may be the result of poor storage conditions in warehouses or in the field. Still, North Korean munitions are often of noticeably lower quality compared to Western, russian, or even Chinese equivalents.
Read more: North Koreans Fighting on russia's Side Seen Using Bulsae-4 ATGMs for the First Time
One of the photos shows a label that, when translated, indicates a date corresponding to 2021. Meaning this could be a relatively recent batch, though it might also represent some inspection date rather than the actual year of manufacture.
Despite the dominance of drones on today's battlefield, mortars continue to see use on the russian-Ukrainian front, albeit less intensively than earlier in the war. Their compact design makes them easy to camouflage and deploy quickly — all the properties valued in the tactic that aligns with how most artillery systems are employed these days.
Although worth noting, earlier footage of DPRK troops showed them firing 60mm mortars directly from open ground, without prepared positions. This was likely tied both to the role of the weapon itself and to the specific assault-centered nature of operations in the Kursk region.
North Korea showed footage of its soldiers fighting alongside russia in the Kursk region for the first time.No, there are no images of EU/NATO soldiers defending Europe alongside Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/NLfzYdie2w— Jürgen Nauditt (@jurgen_nauditt) August 23, 2025
A key challenge with such mortars is ammunition resupply. Because of their limited range, stocks must be positioned close to the front line, making them prime targets for Ukrainian drones. To mitigate this, russian troops rely on hand-carried deliveries or motorcycle transport — methods that place them at risk of being targeted in transit.
North Korean 60mm mortar in service with the Russian army. pic.twitter.com/0jzyyAcqOU— MilitaryNewsUA (@front_ukrainian) June 3, 2025
The 60mm mortar offers the advantage of lightweight ammunition that can be delivered in larger quantities, but at the cost of very short range. This trade-off is why, for example, the Ukrainian Armor company has experimented with converting 60mm mortar rounds into full-fledged FPV drones, allowing for quicker strike preparation and greater unit mobility.
North Korean ammunition appearing in Ukraine is no surprise, as russia has already been documented using other DPRK-made systems and munitions. A recent example is the Type-75 multiple rocket launcher, which has fired both Korean and Chinese rockets.
With its massive arsenal of various weaponry, ranging from small arms to ballistic missiles, North Korea has become a significant enabler of russia's war effort, complicating Ukraine's fight on multiple fronts.
Read more: How russians Got Chinese Ammo for North Korean Type-75 MLRS and What Makes It Better
