Self-propelled guns "Koksan" in the Russian army: rumors and evidence

One of the first photographs of the alleged transportation of Koksans across Russia, November 2024. Photo Telegram / "Oboronka"
In recent months, rumors have been circulating abroad about military-technical cooperation between Russia and the DPRK related to the Special Operation to Protect Donbass. Allegedly, the Russian army receives certain systems and weapons from its North Korean colleagues. Recently, self-propelled guns, known under the code name "Koksan", have been regularly mentioned in this context. Allegedly, Russia has already received a large amount of such equipment and is even actively using it at the front.
Rumors and evidence
The first rumors about the possible delivery of artillery systems from the DPRK to Russia appeared in the fall of 2023. At that time, foreign media wrote that several supply agreements were signed during Kim Jong-un's official visit to Russia. However, no evidence was provided, and it was just another "sensation" and banal rumors.
It was only in mid-November 2024 that the first signs of possible cooperation in the field appeared artillery. Photographs, presumably taken in Russia, were published on specialized resources. The pictures showed a train carrying armored vehicles. Among the cargo, one could recognize a Korean-made self-propelled artillery unit known as "Koksan". It is unknown when and where the train was heading.
Almost immediately on these news Ukrainian intelligence agencies responded. They reported that Russia had already received 60 Korean self-propelled guns, some of which were intended for training units. It is unclear where Kyiv could have gotten this information from. It is entirely possible that this was a routine “working out” of an information pretext, disguised as intelligence data.
In mid-December, a video from the railway appeared. An unknown cameraman filmed a train with self-propelled guns passing through an unknown railway station. The video showed a large number of Koksans on platforms. Judging by the snow on the ground, the video was made shortly before its open publication.

Train with Korean self-propelled guns, December 2024. Photo Telegram / "Military Informant"
The next train with the supposed Korean artillery units was filmed no later than the beginning of the twenties of January 2025. Interestingly, this time the frame showed not only self-propelled guns, but also an unknown model of equipment hidden under camouflage nets. The self-propelled guns, in turn, were transported openly.
There is no official information about possible deliveries of Korean artillery to Russia yet. However, previously published photos and videos can be considered sufficient evidence and indicate the existence of such cooperation.
In the troops and at the front
The supposed delivery of Korean self-propelled guns was predictably linked to the Special Operation and the desire of the Russian army to strengthen its artillery units. However, for several weeks such ideas remained at the level of assumptions and did not have even indirect confirmation.
Only in early January, a short video appeared in specialized sources, which allegedly captured the Koksan self-propelled gun at the front. It showed a combat vehicle of a recognizable appearance, located in a camouflaged position. A camouflage net was stretched over it, and various equipment was located nearby.
Several days ago, Ukrainian sources reported the beginning of the combat use of foreign self-propelled guns. They claim that the Koksans are deployed in the direction of the settlement of Liman and are actively shelling Ukrainian objects. 170-mm high-explosive shells have a great impact on targets and also demoralize Ukrainian manpower.
Thus, despite the lack of official information, Korean SPGs have apparently reached the front and are now being used for their intended purpose. Probably, as new batches arrive, such equipment will appear in different directions and reinforce the artillery there.

Train with equipment, January 2025. Photo Telegram / "Military Chronicle"
Against the backdrop of recent reports, Kiev intelligence has once again published its "intelligence". It is claimed that the Russian army already has 120 "Koksan" and the same amount of equipment is expected to be delivered in the near future. It is noteworthy that Kyiv prefers not to say what the delivery of 240 large-caliber self-propelled guns could lead to.
Technical potential
It is believed that the Koksan SPG was developed by North Korean industry no later than the mid-1978s. Foreign intelligence first learned of this vehicle in 1978 and assigned it the appropriate code name - M-1989. Later, a modernized version appeared, which was designated as M-XNUMX.
Abroad, the SPG is also called "Koksan", after the place where it was first discovered. According to some sources, in the DPRK this product is called "Juchepo" ("Juche weapon").
In the seventies and later, the Koksan was mass-produced, but the production volumes are unknown. The bulk of the vehicles went to the Korean army, but there was also some export. A certain number of self-propelled guns were sent to Iran, which used them in the war with Iraq. A small number of self-propelled guns became trophies of the Iraqi army and were used against their former owners.
The Juchepo self-propelled gun is built on a medium chassis tank T-54/55 or its Chinese version "Type 59". All unnecessary units were removed from the original vehicle, and the chassis was "turned around" with the engine compartment moved forward. The control compartment was placed in the nose of the updated hull, and an open gun mount was placed in the stern.

Self-propelled gun "Koksan" of the Korean army. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The total length of the self-propelled gun in the marching position reaches 15 m, width - 3,3 m, height - 3,1 m. Combat weight - about 40 tons. The tank chassis provides a fairly high level of mobility and cross-country ability on various terrain.
The self-propelled gun is armed with a 170-mm rifled gun, presumably based on a coastal gun. The gun has a rifled barrel with a muzzle brake and a semi-automatic breech. There are hydropneumatic recoil devices. It is assumed that the breech of the system is equipped with an automatic mechanism for loading the projectile and charge.
The gun uses 170 mm separate-case loading rounds. Several types of shells with different effects are known. In the first version, the SPG could not transport ammunition, but after the modernization of the eighties, it was equipped with a rack for 12 rounds. The large mass of ammunition limits the rate of fire: a trained crew spends at least 1 minute on each shot.
The large caliber of the gun provides the corresponding fire characteristics. The firing range of the 170 mm gun is estimated at 45-50 km. There is information about the existence of active-reactive projectiles with a flight range of up to 60 km. In terms of firing range, the Koksan surpasses all 152 and 155 mm caliber systems. In addition, there are obvious advantages in the power of the ammunition and the impact on the target.
Useful novelty
Apparently, the Russian army has indeed received a number of North Korean self-propelled guns with large-caliber guns. By now, the first batches of such equipment could have reached the front and taken part in combat operations. Moreover, the enemy has already reported that it had to come under fire from 170-mm guns.
It is obvious that our army acquired foreign SPGs to obtain certain advantages, and it is not difficult to guess what exactly. In a number of characteristics, the Koksan is superior to the current artillery of the main types available to the enemy. As a result, additional advantages are achieved and the overall effectiveness of our artillery increases.

View from another angle. You can see the open gun mount. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The main advantage of the 170 mm M-1978 SPG is its increased firing range. This self-propelled gun can attack distant targets without fear of return fire from any enemy guns. Such capabilities will be useful both in conventional strikes and in counter-battery combat. The presence of an active-reactive projectile provides additional advantages.
"Koksan" is inferior to other self-propelled guns in rate of fire. However, the mass and power of each projectile compensate for this disadvantage. In addition, the work of the SPG in batteries and the duration of fire are of great importance. Competent organization of combat work allows you to get all the desired effects and realize the main advantages of this combat vehicle.
It should be noted that our army already has large-caliber systems that are superior to the enemy's equipment. The 2S7M Malka self-propelled gun with a 203 mm caliber gun and even higher combat characteristics is in service. At the same time, the presence of a domestic self-propelled gun does not exclude the possibility of using an imported one. In this case, the enemy's targets can be distributed between different self-propelled guns, based on various considerations.
New opportunities
Thus, the Russian army uses various opportunities to increase the effectiveness of its actions. In particular, it was considered possible to purchase large-caliber self-propelled guns manufactured by a friendly state. By now, such equipment has entered the Special Operation zone and helps solve common tasks.
It is unknown how soon all the details of the deployment and use of the Koksans will become known. However, it is already clear what benefit our artillery will receive from such equipment, and what risks its appearance poses for the enemy.
Information