Russian Troops and Tanks Face ‘Self-Destruction’ Crisis: Are North Korean Shells to Blame?

Poor North Korean ammunition quality troubles Russia
Different explosives and missing copper wires contribute to these defects
Prioritizing quantity over quality leads to such issues

Reports are surfacing suggesting that the Russian military is grappling with an ammunition shortage, which is impacting its operations on the Ukrainian war front. These reports indicate that quality issues with shells supplied by North Korea contribute to the challenges faced by the Russian military.

Ukrainian military media Defense Express and Polish media EssaNews recently released photos analyzing the dismantling of five North Korean-made NDT-3 152mm shells used by the Russian military, citing a Telegram channel.

These media reported that a tank currently in operation by the Russian military has been “self-destructing,” with the low-quality North Korean ammunition suspected to have exploded inside the shell.

They also reported that the poor quality of North Korean shells and ammunition is causing headaches for the Russian military.

Accidents occur frequently due to poor propellant quality, premature explosions, or erratic range.

Seal damage, moisture ingress, poor quality

The released photos showed that many shells lacked wire components to eliminate copper powder inside the shell. The loaded propellant varied in color between shells, suggesting a high likelihood of inconsistent combustion.

The media reports that some shells have damaged parts needing sealing, which could lead to quality degradation from moisture ingress. They also noted that the amount of propellant loaded varies between shells.

Defense Express pointed out that “due to this amount, the shell firing range may be shortened, and accuracy may decrease as the number of firings increases.” It also stated that “North Korean workers steal everything possible from the factory” and that “North Korea’s planned economy, which prioritizes quantity over quality, leads to these defects.”

EssaNews also analyzed that “the Russian military faced unexpected problems after starting to use ammunition sent by North Korea. The quality of North Korean ammunition was not good. As military experts expected, the number of accidents where self-propelled guns were destroyed or damaged due to premature shell explosions increased.”

Critique of North Korean manufacturing

This is not the first time that media have reported that the weapons North Korea provided to Russia are defective. The Russian military’s unavoidable choice due to the shortage of ammunition resulting from the protracted war with Ukraine has become a headache.

Defense Express highlighted, “In our inspection of five randomly chosen howitzer shells supplied by North Korea to Russia, we found inconsistencies in propellant content, variations in propellant material, and some shells even lacked the necessary copper wire.” This has led to reports from Russian artillery at the front line that the range of North Korean shells is inconsistent and systematically dispersed due to poor-quality propellants.

Shin Jong Woo, Secretary-General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, said, “If the amount of the shell’s propellant is inconsistent, it may not reach the desired range, causing problems in tactical operation.” Foreign media have been reporting that “the accuracy of shooting is declining due to inconsistent shell trajectory distances, possibly due to the poor quality of the shells provided by North Korea, causing difficulties for the Russian military in carrying out its mission.”

Reports indicate that North Korea supplied Russia with shells and ballistic missiles to offset shortages from the Ukraine war, receiving satellite launch technology in return. The White House revealed last October that North Korea sent more than 1,000 6m containers of weapons for attacking Ukraine to Russia to coincide with Chairman Kim Jong-un’s visit to Russia last month.

Internal explosion, defective North Korean shells to blame

Recently, social media have been posting a series of explosions that occurred while using shells suspected to be North Korean in the Russian military. A video posted on X shows a Russian BM-21 tank entirely damaged by an internal explosion. A military blogger who shared this post claimed, “An internal explosion seems certain, and defective shells are to blame. It’s either Russian or North Korean.”

These claims have gained traction in South Korean online communities, with particular attention given to recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who mentioned that “we are ready” on December 4 (local time). In his remarks, Putin noted that the future cooperation between Russia and South Korea, beneficial to both nations’ citizens, hinges on South Korea’s actions. Social media posts are suggesting that Putin is extending an olive branch to South Korea, which possesses significantly more modern conventional weaponry compared to North Korea.

During the credentials ceremony for new ambassadors from 21 countries at the Moscow Kremlin, Putin stressed, “I want to emphasize that Russia is prepared for this.”

Putin also commented on the current relations between South Korea and Russia, noting with regret that they are challenging. He recalled that just a few years ago, the relationship between the two nations was evolving constructively, particularly in the economic sphere, and was mutually beneficial.

By. Hyun Ho Lee