The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) has reported that Kim Jong-sik, a top North Korean missile engineer, was spotted in Ukraine last August. He was allegedly there to assess the performance of North Korea’s KN-23 missile in real combat situations following multiple failures during Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Accompanied by other North Korean military personnel, Kim Jong-sik was said to be supervising the launch of KN-23 missiles from Donetsk, close to the Russian-Ukrainian front line. The NIS used AI-powered facial recognition software to confirm his identity from a photograph provided by a Ukrainian intelligence agency.
The KN-23 missile is known for its range, high explosive warhead, and evasion capabilities against modern defense systems. However, it has experienced a significant failure rate in Ukraine, prompting Kim Jong-sik’s intervention to identify the root cause.
This development hints at a concerning trend of North Korean military involvement in the conflict, raising alarms not only in Ukraine but also in the Korean Peninsula and surrounding regions. Pyongyang’s decision to test and improve their weaponry in live combat settings poses a threat to regional stability.
In summary, Kim Jong-sik’s presence in Ukraine underscores the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing conflict and the implications for global security.
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