Not really that weird. During Vietnam War NVA shot down many US planes and helicopters with AA guns and missiles despite having very small Air Force themselves, ditto with Soviet Afghan War.
The War in the Ukraine
- Thread starter SampanViking
- Start date
"effectively able to produce domestically complex/advanced machinery thus negating impact of sanctions" is a very broad statement.
Yes, DPRK does produce, and produce a lot - especially for country of ~26 million (around/upto 5 million in mil-related industry). This statement doesn't reflect either nomenclature or the exact level of what this "advancedness" means.
F-16 is an "advanced fighter"(depending on source - it can be 2020s V or 1980s C), regardless of existence of F-35. And this statement is generally true - producing F-16 requires a very high level of industry, which few countries can boast. Yet F-16C isn't F-35.
Yes, North Korea can produce a lot of advanced equipment - and yet it's whole chain, everywhere from material science(and application) for the most boring screw and sheet metal, is often not there where Russian one is. Essentially everything, military or not, that is produced in DPRK, can be vastly improved by applying Ru- know-how; if there are specific items, which DPRK produces better than Russia - it isn't because of DPRK being more advanced in a specific field(there are literally none such fields), but because Korean engineers and administrators are quicker-witted at exploring new ways of using available technology(which happens a lot with Russia, to be fair - and it's paying a huge price for long-outdated schauvinism) . But with all that said - ultimately a comparison between two industrial countries - small and poor(er) and big and rich(er). Even Russian capability to obtain foreign-sourced(western) components, manufacturing equipment, etc is at a scale fundamentally not available to DPRK.
DPRK being industrial country at this economic level is by itself a huge achievement - but let's measure.
Current opportunity for DPRK, when, due to an unexpected combination of extreme Russian need, (North)Korean capability to provide exactly what is needed, in huge numbers, and South Korea's lack of foresight (remarkably - only the last part was the truly decisive one) - is a historic opportunity not to be skipped, and it can be expected for them to use it as such.
Btw, given that most probably Russia pays for DPRK solutions in hard cash(in huge volumes for the scale of North Korean export economy) - procuring Chinese industrial solutions at a scale is now possible, too.
Yes, those that China will agree to sell - but for an economy in need of everything, they will not run out of options where to spend the money.
Chinese civilian/manufacturing equipment is available to them - if paid for (sad rule number 1 of having business with DPRK). Weapons generally weren't(to be fair - DPRK avoided chinese weapons much more than it's generally understood in the west - fear of large China is a basic historical trait for any Korean state). But your statement, as far as I remember, was about the ability to do everything in DPRK, better than?
All those and more were and are available in Russia, with fundamental/industrial/military research continuously stretching back into history. DPRK never had such luxury, and for most part doesn't have it right now - only practical solutions from available components(i.e. doing world-level development from all the same smuggled OTS components everyone else uses. +developing absolutely key capabilities, only there and when they aren't procurable).
This leads to a country, at the same time makes impressive ballistic and space rockets (which is still 1960s-1980s level of tech solutions, not exactly a forefront), and where Japanese tractor in the field is still a valuable asset. Occupation-era Japanese.
Comparing that to what Russia can provide them with is a complete lack of understanding of what and where DPRK is at.
Oh, everything? Everything, excuse me, what?
1950s-level submersible targets, or simply properly equip their mining operations with heavy vehicles(major export article for the whole country, by the way)? Maybe basic turbines, in a country awash with hydro energetic potential yet still unable to fully supply electricity even to industry? Or an adequate auto chassis for all their tactical missiles? (tracked launchers on t-62(!)-derived base are a sign of things)? Maybe the production of modern tooling and/or any line of chips?
Like I went only through examples of mechanical engineering(where DPRK is strong) - and, as you can see, for DPRK holes are everywhere; it's indeed easier to name specific parts of the industry where it isn't a hole, compared to the modern industry standard.
With all due respect, if you're DPRK fan - it's good, but learn about the country of your love. Ability to produce something, independently is good, but Russia literally opens the world to the DPRK. Maybe not the most advanced world, as it itself can't do it/doesn't have access to (though. through China it is arguably less and less the case), but still the world where everyone here lives.
Together with money to procure. 2in1.
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Another Abrams lost in combat.
In 1968 NVAF had 180+ Migs and had a hell of a kill count vs US fighters which were supplemented with Soviet "advised" IADS. Both worked together. Not a good analogy. Ukraine has no navy and has sunk more warships against a blue water navy since Falklands however it's not like Russian navy is traveling thousands of miles. Problem for Russian navy and the whole Russian military, amongst many problems, is they don't fight in a combined arms way there's no Joint-Command in their military. This is what happens when you don't have air superiority and good IRS capabilities.
USV POV of the attack on Russian warship
Don't know why they keep them there...they are destroyed like sitting ducks while doing practically nothing for the war effort. Get these ships out of there, up the canal system.
Close mouth of the harbor with floating docks at least... but they would still be fish in a barrel for cruise missiles strikes...
It's free PR stunt and humiliation for Russian navy.
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Another Ukrainian S-300 gets taken out. Either by Iskander or Tornado-S plus X-35 launched from Su-35.
Two alleged HIMARS systems taken out in the Kherson area. Maybe by Tornado-S I am guessing to be the most likely culprit.
Ukrainian temporary deployment points gets taken out by a LMUR.
AFU caught using an ambulance to transport a mortar system.
Disguised AFU artillery gets taken out by the 238th Brigade.
Ukrainian UAV operators hit by Krasnopol from the 238th Brigade. Nowadays UAV operators are the most important targets in the battlefield.
Ukrainian drone attacks a fuel facility in Belgorod. Three tanks are left burning.
Ukrainian T-72 hit by a Lancet.
Geran mass production.
Knocked out Abrams and Bradley near Berdychy. Credit goes to the 3rd Special Forces Brigade and the 15th Motorized Rifle.
MSTA-S takes out a shelter used by Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian Varta used by special forces NGU Omega knocked out by a mine, leaving the group without wheels.
Ukrainian DRG found using this building as a base, gets bombarded.
Ukrainian FPV drone tries to attack this Desertcross-1000. Quick reflex by the driver made the drone miss.
Warehouse used by the AFU burning after a strike in Kherson.
Ukrainian Gvozdika SPG knocked out by Krasnopol.
FABs and NARS landing on Ukrainian positions in the Vremevsky protrusion.
Two alleged HIMARS systems taken out in the Kherson area. Maybe by Tornado-S I am guessing to be the most likely culprit.
Ukrainian temporary deployment points gets taken out by a LMUR.
AFU caught using an ambulance to transport a mortar system.
Disguised AFU artillery gets taken out by the 238th Brigade.
Ukrainian UAV operators hit by Krasnopol from the 238th Brigade. Nowadays UAV operators are the most important targets in the battlefield.
Ukrainian drone attacks a fuel facility in Belgorod. Three tanks are left burning.
Ukrainian T-72 hit by a Lancet.
Geran mass production.
Knocked out Abrams and Bradley near Berdychy. Credit goes to the 3rd Special Forces Brigade and the 15th Motorized Rifle.
MSTA-S takes out a shelter used by Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian Varta used by special forces NGU Omega knocked out by a mine, leaving the group without wheels.
Ukrainian DRG found using this building as a base, gets bombarded.
Ukrainian FPV drone tries to attack this Desertcross-1000. Quick reflex by the driver made the drone miss.
Warehouse used by the AFU burning after a strike in Kherson.
Ukrainian Gvozdika SPG knocked out by Krasnopol.
FABs and NARS landing on Ukrainian positions in the Vremevsky protrusion.
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I start to think Ukraine send them to get bonked on purpose...
It's like they are angry that US didn't give them a better stuff like F-35 or something. So, they lashing out with this.