Suspected North Korean-made F-7 rocket-propelled grenades, many with a particular pink stripe on their warhead, are seen at an Israeli navy base in southern Israel. AP
Hamas fighters possible fired North Korean weapons throughout their 7 October assault on Israel, a militant video and weapons seized by Israel present, regardless of Pyongyang’s denials that it sells arms to the militant group.
The video was analyzed by two consultants on North Korean arms. Together with an Related Press evaluation of weapons captured on the battlefield and South Korean navy intelligence, the video signifies that Hamas used the F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters usually use towards armored automobiles.
The proof shines a light-weight on the murky world of the illicit arms shipments that sanction-battered North Korea makes use of as a method to fund its arms packages.
Rocket-propelled grenade launchers fireplace a single warhead and may be rapidly reloaded, making them worthwhile weapons for guerrilla forces in operating skirmishes with heavy automobiles. The F-7 has been documented in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, mentioned N.R. Jenzen-Jones, a weapons skilled who works because the director of the consultancy Armament Analysis Companies.
“North Korea has long supported Palestinian militant groups, and North Korean arms have previously been documented amongst interdicted supplies,” Jenzen-Jones advised The Related Press.
Hamas has printed pictures of their coaching that present fighters with a weapon with a rocket-propelled grenade with a particular pink stripe throughout its warhead, and different design components matching the F-7, mentioned Matt Schroeder, a senior researcher with Small Arms Survey who wrote a information to Pyongyang’s gentle weapons.
“It is not a surprise to see North Korean weapons with Hamas,” Schroeder mentioned.
The North Korean F-7 resembles the extra extensively distributed Soviet-era RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade, with a number of noticeable variations.
A militant video examined by the AP reveals one fighter carrying the F-7. Weapons seized by the Israeli navy and proven to journalists additionally included that pink stripe and different design components matching the F-7.
In a background briefing with journalists Tuesday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Workers particularly recognized the F-7 as one of many North Korean weapons it believed Hamas used within the assault. The Israeli navy declined to reply questions from the AP in regards to the origin and the producer of these rocket-propelled grenades, saying the continuing warfare with Hamas prevented it from responding.
North Korea’s mission to the United Nations didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from the AP. Nonetheless, Pyongyang final week by way of its state-run KCNA information company dismissed claims that Hamas used its weapons as “a groundless and false rumor” orchestrated by the USA.
Hamas propaganda movies and photographs beforehand have proven its fighters with North Korea’s Bulsae guided anti-tank missile. Jenzen-Jones mentioned he believed, primarily based on imagery of the weapons wielded by Hamas fighters, in addition they used North Korea’s Sort 58 self-loading rifle, a variant of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Iran additionally has modeled a few of its ballistic missiles after North Korean variants.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Officers in Iran lengthy have supported Hamas and have praised their assault on Israel.
In December 2009, Thai authorities grounded a North Korean cargo aircraft reportedly carrying 35 tons of typical arms, together with rockets and rocket-propelled grenades, because it made a refueling cease at a Bangkok airport. Thai officers then mentioned the weapons had been headed to Iran. The US later mentioned in 2012 the shipments interdicted by the Thais had been sure for Hamas.
North Korea additionally faces Western suspicions that it provides ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia to help of its warfare on Ukraine. The White Home mentioned final week that North Korea lately delivered greater than 1,000 containers of navy tools and munitions to Russia.