M-1978 Koksan

M-1978 Koksan 주체포 (Korean)
A North Korean M-1989 version of Koksan photographed in North Korea in 2013.
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin	North Korea
Service history
In service	1978–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Iran–Iraq War Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Manufacturer	Second Machine Industry Bureau, North Korea
Variants	M-1978 Koksan M-1989 Koksan
Specifications
Mass	40,000 kg (88,000 lb)
Length	14.9 m (49 ft)
Width	3.27 m (10.7 ft)
Height	3.1 m (10 ft)
Crew	4, up to 6 (presumed)[1]
Caliber	170 mm (6.7 in)
Rate of fire	~1-2 rounds per 5 minutes[1]
Effective firing range	40–50 km (25–31 mi) (est.)[1][2]
Maximum firing range	60 km (with RAP round)[1]
Armor	Steel
Main armament	1× 170 mm (6.7 in) rifled gun
Engine	Diesel 520 hp (390 kW)
References	[3]

The M-1978 Koksan (Korean: M-1978 곡산; Hanja: M-1978 谷山), officially known as the Chuch'ep'o^[4] (Juche Cannon; Korean: 주체포; Hanja: 主體砲), is a North Korean self-propelled 170 mm (6.7 in) gun based on the Type 59 tank chassis.

According to Jane's, the Koksan is based on a Chinese Type 59 tank chassis. The 170 mm gun is in an open mount with no superstructure and is stabilized when firing by two large folding spades at the rear. It also features a multislotted muzzle brake (but no fume extractor) and probably a power rammer. Elevation and traverse appear to be powered, although gun traverse is very limited to avoid overstressing the chassis.^[5] The gun has a range that would allow it to strike Seoul from the Korean Demilitarized Zone.^[6]

According to Foss, the 170 mm gun may be a Russian naval gun or coastal artillery system supplied to North Korea in the 1950s. After these were replaced in the coastal defence role by guided missiles, the retired guns could have been used to create the Koksan.^[5]

The M-1978 version doesn't have enough space for the gun crew and ammunition, requiring another vehicle to carry the remainder of the crew and some of the ammunition.^[5] While the M-1989 can carry 12 rounds on-board.^[1]

Foss states that the M-1978 is probably fitted with an NBC protection system and infrared night vision sights for the driver. Like the Type 59 tank, the M-1978 can lay its own smokescreen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust.^[5]

In 1989, a new version of the Koksan appeared, that was designated the M-1989. It uses the same gun and mount of the M-1978, but is mounted on a modified ATS tracked artillery tractor chassis.^[3]

Unlike its predecessor, the M-1989 has occasionally been put on public display by the North Koreans during parades and news broadcasts.^[7] One example has also been seen on display at International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2005 in the United Arab Emirates.^[8]

Very little information is available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean government. The designations M-1978 and Koksan were given to the type by US military analysts, as they first became aware of it in that year in Koksan, North Korea.^[5]

What is known is that it is a 170 mm (6.69 in) self-propelled gun of the open turret type. It was first seen publicly during a military parade in 1985. At least one example has been acquired by the United States, likely taken from examples captured by Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War.

Little is publicly known about how North Korea organizes and deploys its artillery. It has been suggested that M-1978's and M-1989's equipped battalions consist of 12 guns, 20-30 trucks and 150-190 personnel, organized into a battalion headquarters and three batteries with four guns per battery. Battalions are organized into a brigade consisting of 3 to 6 battalions. The brigade has a brigade headquarters and supporting engineer, air-defense and target acquisition units.^[7]

In 1987, several M-1978s were supplied to Iran and used during the Iran–Iraq War. Some of them were damaged, destroyed, or captured by Iraqi forces.^[9]

A number of the captured Iranian guns were placed on public display. At least one of these was recovered by US Marines in 2008 from the campus of the University of Anbar.^[10]

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A Koksan artillery piece was towed to University of Anbar around the 29 May 2003. At this time, soldiers from the United States 2/5 Field Artillery Battalion had been occupying the grounds of the university. The self-propelled weapon was towed to the university grounds so that it may be returned with the unit as a trophy. The idea to bring the weapon back to the United States was eventually abandoned. It was at this time that soldiers from the 2/5 Battalion disabled the gun with a thermite device. Eventually, the 2/5 Battalion was reassigned to a new area of operations and the cannon was left at the university.

On 14 November 2024, OSINT analysis geolocated the M-1989 Koksan being transported by rail in the city of Krasnoyarsk.^[11][12] Ukrainian intelligence source claimed that Russia acquired at least 50 M-1989 Koksans by mid-November.^[13] Defence analysts told NK News that the transfer of Koksans will help Russia reinforce its arsenal of heavy artillery such as the 2S7 Pion and 2S7M Malka, and that North Korea will probably send artillery crews to operate them.^[14]

Current operators

•  Iran^[3] − M1978 variant^[15]
•  North Korea^[3]
•  Russia - As many as 50.^[16] In November 2024, the M-1989 variant of Koksan was confirmed to be in Russia when at least two M-1989 Koksans were observed to be transiting through Krasnoyarsk, Russia through rail transport.^[17][11]

Former operators

•  Iraq − Captured from Iran^[5]

• 2S7 Pion, a similar Soviet heavy self-propelled artillery piece
• M107 self-propelled gun, heavy SPG formerly used by the United States and NATO-countries

• Cordesman, Anthony H; Hess, Ashley (2013). The Evolving Military Balance in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia: Conventional Balance, Asymmetric Forces, and U.S. Forces. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-2518-3.
• Foss, Christopher F, ed. (2011). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2011-2012. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2960-9.
• LaPorte, Maj. Gen. Leon J; Odierno, Col. Raymond T. (September–October 1996). "Massing Combat Effects: 1st Cav Fire Support TTP". Field Artillery. Fort Sill, OK: US Field Artillery Association: 6–11. ISSN 0899-2525. Retrieved 17 November 2024.

• Media related to Juche (SPG) at Wikimedia Commons