North Korea Supplies Russia With 140mm Mortars

North Korea supplied Russian military forces with 140mm towed mortars, following the 60mm mortars.

An expert on the Korean People’s Army, Joost Oliemans, said that the new photos were the first evidence of their use in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The 60mm mortar has a NATO-caliber and could have been an attempt to copy Western weaponry.

Russian propagandists claimed that its effectiveness remains unclear.

Another distinctive weapon in the DPRK arsenal is the 140 mm mortar.

This weapon is intended for engaging enemy personnel, artillery and mortar batteries, as well as other tactical targets. It is capable of conducting fire from concealed positions.

The mortar has a firing rate of 10-12 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to 8 kilometers.

Oliemans states that this mortar was developed in the 1980s–1990s, and photos from Russian military bloggers provide the first insight into the operation of this weapon system.

The expert notes that this mortar was first observed during the parade commemorating the 60th anniversary of the North Korean army in 1992. It was manufactured in 1981.

Reported specifications are:

• Caliber, 140 mm
• Weight in transport/combat position, 355 / 230 kg
• Firing range min./max., 500 / 8000 m
• Rate of fire, 10–12 rounds/min
• Elevation angle, +80 degrees
• Traverse angle, 5 degrees
• Crew size, 5 persons
• Shell weight, 18 kg
• Explosive charge weight, 3.52 kg

Thus, the artillery supplies from the DPRK continue to increase; however, the Russian army still faces challenges due to its dependence on unique calibers.

Recently, Russia equipped one of its newly formed artillery brigades with Koksan self-propelled howitzers received from North Korea.