A recent report from UN sanctions monitors has identified the debris of a missile that landed in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on 2 January as originating from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile. This revelation, detailed in a 32-page report seen by Reuters, underscores a violation of the arms embargo on North Korea.
Overview
Earlier this month, three sanctions monitors travelled to Ukraine to inspect the debris and found no evidence that the missile was made by Russia. They “could not independently identify from where the missile was launched, nor by whom.”
“Information on the trajectory provided by Ukrainian authorities indicates it was launched within the territory of the Russian Federation,” they wrote in a report to the UNSC’s North Korea sanctions committee on 25 April.
“Such a location, if the missile was under control of Russian forces, would probably indicate procurement by nationals of the Russian Federation,” they added, noting that this would be a violation of the arms embargo on the secretive East Asian regime.
SCOOP: The debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Jan. 2 was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, United Nations sanctions monitors told a Security Council committee in a report seen by Reuters on Monday. https://t.co/qPEBrMjSsB
— Michelle Nichols (@michellenichols) April 29, 2024
Russia’s Alleged Arms Transfers from North Korea
Accusations have swirled regarding North Korea’s purported transfer of weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, although both nations have denied such claims. Nevertheless, concerns persist, especially after the US accused Russia of employing DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles in attacks against Ukraine.
The Hwasong-11 series ballistic missiles, the report notes, were initially tested by North Korea in 2019, highlighting Pyongyang’s continued development of its ballistic missile program.
The situation is compounded by Russia’s recent veto of the annual renewal of UN sanctions monitors, responsible for overseeing the enforcement of international sanctions on North Korea for the past 15 years. This move leaves the future of sanctions monitoring uncertain, as the mandate for the current panel of experts is set to expire imminently.
Following the 2 January incident, Ukrainian authorities swiftly showcased missile fragments to the media, noting distinctions from Russian models and suggesting a potential link to North Korea. However, conclusive evidence remains elusive, leaving key questions unanswered about the precise origin and circumstances surrounding the missile’s launch.