North Korea uses Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system to protect Pyongyang
Ukrainian intelligence warns that North Korea has acquired the first Pantsir-S1 air defense system delivered by Russia.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•07/07/2025
Confirming speculations that emerged last June, following a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Group (MSMT) regarding the transfer of Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to North Korea, the General Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) recently warned that North Korea now possesses the first Pantsir-S1 air defense systems delivered by Russia. Photo: @ Swissinfo. The General Intelligence Service (GUR) said they were deployed to protect Pyongyang's airspace. Photo: @ Air Force Technology.
This revelation was made by Kyrylo Budanov, the current head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine, in an interview with local radio station Hromadske. Photo: @ Air Force Technology. Quoting some official statements of Kyrylo Budanov: "I can tell you that the first Pantsir-S1 air defense systems have appeared in Pyongyang. They are already on combat duty there, protecting the capital of North Korea". Photo: @ ODIN - OE Data Integration Network. Kyrylo Budanov also added that Russia is retraining defense technology personnel for North Korea, and the North Koreans will soon operate the technology on this Pantsir-S1 air defense system independently. Photo: @ ODIN - OE Data Integration Network.
The deployment of the Pantsir S-1 will significantly enhance the defense of areas containing high-value and important assets in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. Photo: @ Air Force Technology. Similar to the US Patriot defense system, the Pantsir-S1 consists of a missile launcher, a radar and a command post, operating as a unified unit to effectively maintain air interception capabilities to protect facilities, battalions and other critical infrastructure. Photo: @ Air Force Technology. The system is operated by a crew of three and uses a highly fragmenting surface-to-air missile to counter incoming warheads, aircraft and UAVs. Photo: @ Army Recognition. The Pantsir-S1 can track threats within a radius of 75 km and is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 30 km, depending on the type of missile used. Photo: @ Army Recognition.
Before the arrival of Russia's new Pantsir-S1 system in North Korea, North Korea had already made significant strides in its air defense capabilities, which until now had mainly operated the outdated S-75 and S-125M systems—platforms that have been in service for more than half a century. Photo: @ Missile Threat - CSIS. It should also be noted that, according to previous reports, Pyongyang already possesses the Pantsir air defense system only in the ME variant, which is integrated into the North Korean Navy's “Choe Hyon” missile destroyer, also supplied by Moscow. Photo: @ militarnyi.
Furthermore, it is important to note that defense cooperation between the two countries is not limited to the transfer of this type of air defense system, but also includes a wider range of military equipment and technology that Russia has decided to provide to North Korea, in compensation for the latter's support for Russia in the war in Ukraine. Photo: @ Swissinfo.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•07/07/2025
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