The Ukrainian military announced that its Windbreaker Drone Brigade successfully destroyed North Korean-made Bulsae-4 anti-tank weapons in Kharkiv, a region currently occupied by Russian forces. The brigade released video footage showcasing the attack, according to a report by Euromaidan Press on November 30.
The report highlighted that since late 2023, Ukrainian forces have recovered fragments of North Korean missiles from the battlefield. Satellite imagery also reveals an increase in arms shipments from North Korea to Russia via rail and maritime routes.
In addition to targeting the Bulsae-4 missile system, the Windbreaker Drone Brigade reportedly destroyed several Russian vehicles, including trucks and concealed KamAZ vehicles.
The Bulsae-4, an anti-tank missile system with an estimated range of 10–25 kilometers, is believed to be an upgraded version of a Russian missile that North Korea reverse-engineered. Reports of Russia deploying this weapon first surfaced in July through military publications.
Later, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed the presence of Bulsae-4 weapons in the conflict, citing fragments recovered by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate.
Euromaidan Press emphasized that these developments are further evidence of increased flows of North Korean military equipment to Russia.
Additionally, Ukraine alleges that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia’s Kursk region and are actively participating in combat operations. NATO has reportedly confirmed this deployment, stating that these forces are equipped with standard infantry weapons, including mortars, rifles, and machine guns.
BY BAE JAESUNG hongdoya@joongang.co.kr
