Russia Deploys North Korean Bulsae-4 Anti-Tank Guided Missile System in Ukraine

Russian forces have begun using the North Korean long-range self-propelled anti-tank guided missile system Bulsae-4 against Ukrainian targets.

The Bulsae-4 system was detected by Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance on one of the front lines while positioned in an open area. Preliminary reports indicate that the system has a targeting range exceeding 10 km, although the exact specifications of the North Korean weapon remain unclear. Some sources estimate its effective range to be between 10 and 25 km.

The Bulsae-4 features a rotary launcher with eight missile containers mounted on a North Korean M-2010 wheeled armored vehicle with a 6×6 wheel configuration. The system’s missiles are equipped with large stabilizers and are designed to attack from above, where armored vehicles are most vulnerable. The missiles are guided using an electro-optical seeker and command guidance via an optical fiber cable.

The system allows for manual guidance of the missiles via video link, enabling the operator to view the terrain, obstacles, and targets, and to adjust targeting as needed. This capability facilitates high accuracy and the ability to engage targets beyond line of sight.

It is worth noting that in early June, Bloomberg reported that North Korea had delivered approximately 5 million artillery shells of various calibers to Russia. Additionally UN had confirmed the use of North Korean ballistic missiles by Russia against Ukrainian territory. Debris from a missile strike on January 2 of this year in Ukraine was identified as part of the North Korean Hwasong-11 (KN-23) ballistic missile system.