The situation in the region remains tense. Pyongyang expressed regret over the injuries to ROK military personnel and lifted martial law, in turn, the ROK turned off its loudspeakers. Maintaining peace on the peninsula is a top priority, since if hostilities break out, the consequences for both countries could be very dire. We invite you to take a look at the North Korean army and familiarize yourself with its approximate size, as well as equipment.
Of course, the main strength of the DPRK army is the number of personnel. In percentage terms, North Korea's army is the largest in the world. With a population of 24.5 million people, the country's armed forces number 1.1 million (4.5% of the population). The DPRK army is recruited by conscription, the service life is 5-10 years.
In 2015, the leadership of the DPRK decided that the North Korean army should sharply increase in size. To achieve this, the country introduced compulsory military service for women who had previously served on a voluntary basis. From now on, all girls over 17 years of age are required to serve in the army. Women were nevertheless given some relief: the service life of Korean women will be “only” 3 years. As an incentive not to shirk service, the country's leadership decided that only girls who have served in the army will now be accepted into universities.
As of 2008, the strength of the DPRK Navy was 46,000 people, in 2012 - 60,000. The conscription service life is 5-10 years. The majority of the Navy consists of forces coast guard. Due to the imbalance in composition, the fleet has limited opportunities for control of maritime spaces. The main task of the Navy is to support the combat operations of ground forces against the South Korean army. The Navy is capable of conducting missile and artillery attacks on coastal targets.
The DPRK fleet includes 3 guided missile frigates (2 Najin, 1 Soho), 2 destroyers, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 4 Soviet submarines of Project 613, 23 Chinese and domestic submarines of Project 033.
In addition, 29 small submarines of the Sang-O project, more than 20 midget submarines, 34 missile boats. 
The DPRK is armed with fire support boats, 56 large and more than 100 small patrol boats, 10 Hante small landing ships (capable of carrying 3-4 light tanks), up to 120 landing boats (including about 100 Nampo, created based on the Soviet torpedo boat P-6) and about 130 hovercraft.
The DPRK missile force is modeled after the Chinese missile force. In fact, the missile forces are not even a separate branch of the military, but an independent branch of the DPRK’s armed forces, which in the foreseeable future should become the basis of the country’s military power. The main missiles of the DPRK are designed on the basis of secular models: Hwasong-5 (analogue of the Soviet R-17), Hwasong-6 (modernized Hwasong-5 with an increased range), Nodong, Musudan (a number of sources are considered based on the design of the Soviet R-27 SLBM, in mainly due to external resemblance), Taepodong.
North Korea's main missile can be called the Nodon-B, which was developed on the basis of a Soviet prototype - the R-27 single-stage submarine-launched ballistic missile, adopted by the USSR Navy in 1968. The Nodon-B's firing range (estimated at 2750- 4000 km) exceeds that of the R-27 (2500 km), which was achieved by increasing the length and diameter of the body - this made it possible to use more capacious fuel and oxidizer tanks on the rocket, although it worsened its flight characteristics.
“Nodon-B” can hit American military targets in Okinawa and even (if the range estimate of 4000 km is correct) in Guam, that is, on American territory itself. And after the DPRK successfully tested underwater missile launches (according to local media), the entire US territory is under attack.
In addition, North Korea has developed a ballistic missile, as well as a launch vehicle capable of launching artificial satellites into low-Earth orbit. The first Taepodong rockets were capable of delivering a payload weighing 750 kg over a distance of up to 2000 km. In 2006, 25-30 of them were created in the DPRK. The missiles were constantly being improved. As a result, the flight range was increased to 6,700 km. And today, US experts believe that the DPRK is developing the Taepodong-3 missile, which has a flight range of 10-12 thousand km. According to media reports, the DPRK army may already have 12-23 nuclear warheads.
The DPRK army, according to South Korean media, has more than 21 thousand artillery pieces.
The main striking force of the DPRK artillery is, perhaps, the system volley fire M1985, caliber 240mm. The system has 12 guides, and the firing range apparently reaches 35 km.
The M1911 multiple launch rocket system has similar characteristics. Caliber – 240 mm. Number of guides – 12. Firing range around 35 km. The DPRK has at least 500 M1985 and M1991.
Much more is known about the M-1978 Koksan self-propelled gun, since it is exported and was captured by American troops in Iraq.
The M-1978 Koksan self-propelled gun was created on the T-55 chassis. Caliber – 170 mm. Firing range – 40-60 km. Rate of fire 1-2 shots/5 minutes. Speed on the highway is 40 km/h. Power reserve 300 km. The M1989 vehicle, on the same chassis, is used as an ammunition carrier.
Artillery in the DPRK is also represented by self-propelled guns of the Juche-Po series. Unites a whole family of vehicles with weapons from 122 to 152 mm. Unfortunately, there is almost no information on this machine, but it is known for certain that Kim Yer Sung directly took part in its development.
The DPRK army has at least 200 Pokphunho tanks. This is the most secret North Korean tank; there is almost no information on its performance characteristics on the Internet. Created on the basis of the T-72 Armament – 125 mm smoothbore gun.
Also in service are a number of towed Soviet guns from the 30s to the 60s.
The DPRK is armed with 200 Soviet BMP-1, 32 BTR80A, at least 1000 BTR-60 (hardly on the move), 350 completely antique BTR-40. But the main transport of the North Korean infantry is their own vehicles: VTT-323 - created on the basis of the Chinese YW531 transporter. It transports 10 infantrymen in full gear, they are also equipped with 82-mm mortars and are used as mobile mortar batteries, as part of a motorized battalion.
The DPRK Air Force is one of the most numerous in the world and is armed with about 1,600 aircraft. Official statistics on the DPRK Air Force are not available, so estimates of the number of aircraft in service are approximate. The main striking force of the DPRK Air Force is soviet fighters MIG-29 and SU-25. According to experts, the DPRK army has 523 fighters and 80 bombers in service.
Tensions are rising. The United States and South Korea are preparing to hold their massive annual drills, which North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. Pyongyang warns that any violation of its borders will be met with "merciless" retaliation, including strikes on Seoul and the US mainland.
“Army comes first” is the national motto of North Korea, which has always feared any threats to the ruling regime and is still at war with Washington and Seoul. The country is nuclear-armed and boasts the world's fourth-largest army, and is therefore traditionally seen as the biggest challenge to the status quo in East Asia - an image that is actively promoted by its government and was once again on display at a massive military parade last October of the year.
Joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States are scheduled to begin on March 7 and will last more than a month. During exercises, tensions along the North Korean border always rise.
Pyongyang is pouring huge amounts of money into developing its nuclear and missile arsenal and maintaining its traditional army. About 5% of the 24 million people are on active duty military service, another 25-30% belong to paramilitary organizations or reserve units and are constantly ready for mobilization.
But how strong is Kim Jong-un's army?
Here's the estimate, based on Associated Press reporters and photographers and the latest report from the Office of the Secretary of Defense to Congress:
On the ground
Numbers: 950 thousand people Personnel, 4200 tanks, 2200 armored vehicles, 8600 units field artillery, 5500 systems volley fire.
Besides numbers: This part of the military has always been North Korea's main ace up its sleeve. Threats to launch a nuclear attack on the continental United States are most likely completely unfounded for now, but promises to turn the capital of South Korea into a “sea of fire” are definitely not.
Among other things, North Korea's artillery is a significant concern - in the event of war, long-range guns and missiles would be capable of hitting the South Korean capital, Seoul, even from abroad.
Korean ground forces people's army today form the most most its armed forces. 70% of them are proactively located near the border of the demilitarized zone for rapid mobilization in the event of an unforeseen aggravation of relations with South Korea; They dug in well in the area, building several thousand fortified underground structures.
They are mainly armed with "outdated equipment" based on Chinese and Soviet projects, developed back in the 1950s, or purchased from these countries. But in recent years, the country has introduced new tanks, artillery and small arms.
At the October parade, the KPA demonstrated a new mobile 240-mm multiple launch rocket system with eight missiles. State media recently published photographs of Kim Jong Un inspecting the new anti-tank gun with increased range. The US Department of Defense report states:
“Despite lack of resources and aging equipment, North Korea's large, strategically positioned troops could launch an attack on the ROK (South Korea) with little or no warning. The Army retains the ability to inflict significant damage on the ROK, especially in the region from the DMZ to Seoul.”
North Koreans join the military amid political tensions with South Korea. Undated photograph published by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
However, North Korean ground forces are generally poorly supplied with food and equipment and suffer from a lack of training. In addition, the military is often used as cheap labor - they do everything from constructing and repairing buildings to building highways.
On the sea
Numbers: 60 thousand people personnel, 430 patrol vessels, 260 landing ships, 20 mine-sweeping vessels, about 70 submarines, 40 support and support vessels
Besides numbers: The DPRK Navy, divided into the eastern and western fleets, has about a dozen main bases and is the smallest part of the North Korean army. But it has several strengths, including hovercraft for amphibious landings and one of the largest submarine fleets in the world.
An estimated 70 submarines - attack, midget and small littoral - effectively provide coastal defense and possible special operations. The navy has no vessels capable of operating far offshore, so it relies heavily on a large but aging armada of small coastal patrol boats. However, North Korea is modernizing some of its surface ships and demonstrates efforts to develop a domestic submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles.
And although North Korea's midget submarines are very old, they still pose a serious threat to South Korea. These submarines are capable of lurking along the coast, damaging and even destroying South Korean ships.
In addition, due to the miniature size and diesel engines of these submarines, they are able to effectively hide in countless bays, grottoes and natural bays throughout the Korean Peninsula.
In the air
Numbers: 110 thousand personnel, more than 300 transport and more than 800 combat aircraft, 300 helicopters.
Besides numbers: The obsolescence of the North Korean army is especially noticeable here. The country has not acquired new combat aircraft for several decades. Her best fighters- MiG-29, aircraft from the 80s, purchased from the Soviet Union, and among attack aircraft - MiG-23 and Su-25.
All of them suffer from chronic fuel shortages, which prevents pilots from doing enough training in the air. System North Korea's air defense is aging, and it continues to maintain scores of 1940s-era An-2s, single-engine, 10-passenger biplanes that it likely hopes to use to drop special forces behind enemy lines.
Interestingly, the country also has a number of American-made MD-500 helicopters, likely purchased to circumvent international sanctions. They were shown at the parade in 2013.
About 50% of North Korea's air force is based within 100 km of the border with South Korea. But due to the venerable age of its aircraft, the country decided to develop its ground forces and air defense system rather than try to modernize aviation.
Therefore, the DPRK invested heavily in the creation of overlapping air defense systems, refusing to modernize its air force. There are several located in Pyongyang launchers for surface-to-air missiles, including a new mobile unit similar to the Russian S-300, known for its wide range of destruction.
Special Forces
Numbers: Not listed in the report; about 180 thousand personnel. Estimates from different sources vary greatly.
Besides numbers: North Korea is fully aware that in terms of weapons, technology and logistics capabilities it lags behind its opponents by light years. But it also knows how to shift the balance through asymmetrical tactical solutions that involve stealth, surprise, and focus on measures that are cheap, easy to implement, and extremely effective.
Among them important role allocated to operations involving army special forces - it is not surprising that special forces The DPRK are the "best trained, equipped, supplied and motivated" units of its army.
Special forces can be sent to the South by air or sea, and possibly on foot through the DMZ tunnels.
The North is also actively working on cyber warfare weapons - another key asymmetric solution military tactics. According to experts, the KPA has more and more unmanned aerial vehicles at its disposal.
Korean War veterans shout slogans in honor of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a parade marking the 60th anniversary of the signing of an armistice in the 1950-1953 Korean War. at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, July 27, 2013.
North Korea marked the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice with a large military parade celebrating the revolutionary genius of three generations of leaders who gave the country "Victory in the Great Patriotic Liberation War."
Bombs and rockets
Numbers: The number of nuclear warheads is not specified in the report to Congress. At the rate external sources, there may be more than 12. The country also has 50 ballistic missiles with a range of 1,300 km, 6 KN08 missiles with a range of more than 5,500 km, and an unknown number of Taepodong-2 missiles of approximately the same or greater range. Possibly one submarine-launched ballistic missile and various shorter-range ballistic missiles.
Besides numbers: North Korea claims to have conducted first test hydrogen bomb January 6, the day after the release of the Department of Defense report. This claim is disputed, but there is no doubt that the country has nuclear weapons, and its engineers are working hard to improve their quantity and quality. The main point here is that operational readiness nuclear weapons North Korea and many of its ballistic missiles remain controversial.
The main challenges for Pyongyang are making nuclear warheads small enough to fit on its missiles and testing systems, necessary to deliver them to the target on an intercontinental ballistic missile, as well as improve and test the arsenal for reliability and accuracy.
Its Taepodong-2 ballistic missile is a militarized version of the rocket that launched a satellite into orbit on February 8. North Korea has not yet been able to demonstrate that it has a functioning intercontinental ballistic missile, which general definition must have a range of at least 5500 km.
However, according to the Heritage Foundation, North Korea's new Taepodong-3 missile has an estimated range of about 13,000 km. If so, the entire continental United States would be within range of the missile. Assuming that Pyongyang is able to install a nuclear warhead on Taepodong-3 and send the missile to the United States, the damage to the country could be quite serious.
Chemical and biological weapons
The US Department of Defense says Pyongyang continues research and development in both areas and could use them for military purposes, but the report does not provide any details about biological weapons.
It said Pyongyang "may" have a stockpile of "nerve agents, asphyxiants, vesicants, and general poisons" that could be used through artillery shells or ballistic missiles. North Korea is not a party to the Ban Convention chemical weapons, and its troops are preparing to fight in an environment contaminated with toxic substances.
The Nuclear Threat Initiative notes that Pyongyang likely has the third-largest stockpile of chemical weapons on the planet, including a variety of nerve agents.
In addition, a North Korean defector to Finland presented 15 gigabytes of data that proves that Pyongyang is testing chemical and biological weapons on its own citizens.
Armed forces of the world
Despite the very weak economy and almost complete international isolation of the DPRK, its armed forces (KPA - Korean People's Army) remain one of the largest and strongest in the world. The KPA is being built under the slogans “juche” (“reliance on one’s own strength”) and “songun” (“everything for the army”). During the Cold War, North Korea received military assistance from the USSR and China. Currently, this assistance has completely stopped: from Russia - due to the low solvency of Pyongyang, from China - due to its extreme dissatisfaction with the policies of the DPRK. Almost the only partner of the DPRK in the military field is Iran, with which there is a constant exchange of military technologies. At the same time, Pyongyang continues to develop a nuclear missile program and maintain huge conventional forces. The country has a developed military-industrial complex, capable of producing almost all classes of military equipment: missiles, tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery pieces and MLRS, warships, boats and submarines, both based on foreign projects and own samples. The only things that have not been created in the DPRK are airplanes and helicopters, although it is possible to assemble them from foreign components (if any).
Due to the extreme closeness of North Korea, information about its armed forces, especially about the amount of equipment, is approximate and estimated, and this is exactly how it should be approached.
Rocket Forces KPA include a significant number of ballistic missiles of various ranges. There are up to 16 divisions of Hwasong-7 missiles (aka Nodong-1) (3 launchers in each division, a total of 200 to 300 missiles; flight range - up to 1.3 thousand km), 1 OTR regiment R-17 (28 launchers; flight range - 300 km), as well as the Hwasong-5 OTR created on the basis of the R-17 (up to 180 launchers, 300-400 missiles; range - 330 km) and Hwasong-6 ( up to 100 launchers, 300-400 missiles; range - 500 km), up to 8 divisions of the KN-02 TR, created on the basis of the Russian Tochka TR (4 launchers each, at least 100 missiles in total; range - 70 km), 6 divisions each of the old TR "Luna" and "Luna-M" (4 launchers each; 70 km). IRBMs or even ICBMs of the Taepodong series are being developed.
Special Operations Forces The KPA are at least the fourth largest in the world in size (after the USA, China, and the Russian Federation), and perhaps even second after the American ones, their number is up to 90 thousand people. The North Korean SOF is led by the Light Infantry Control Bureau and the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. CCOs include three components.
Special forces of the ground forces - 9 light infantry brigades, 3 sniper brigades (17th, 60th, 61st), 17 reconnaissance battalions, 8 special forces battalions.
Airborne Forces - 3 “regular” (38th, 48th, 58th) and 4 sniper (11th, 16th, 17th, 21st) airborne brigades, special forces parachute battalion.
Naval special forces - 2 naval sniper brigades (1 each in the Western and Eastern fleets).
Ground troops, whose number is almost 1 million people, are divided into 4 strategic echelons.
The first echelon is located directly on the border with South Korea and consists of infantry and artillery formations. If the DPRK starts the war first, the task of the first echelon is to break through the South Korean border fortifications. If the first strike is delivered by South Korea and the United States, the task of the first echelon of the KPA is to prevent enemy troops from advancing deeper into the country.
The first echelon includes four infantry corps and one artillery corps.
1st Infantry Corps - 2nd, 13th, 31st, 46th infantry divisions, four brigades - tank, light infantry, self-propelled guns, MLRS.
2nd Infantry Corps - 3rd, 6th, 8th infantry divisions, 32nd light infantry brigade, two more light infantry brigades, as well as tank, self-propelled gun, MLRS, and river crossing brigades.
4th Infantry Corps - 26th, 28th, 33rd, 41st infantry divisions, four brigades - 34th tank, 77th and 88th light infantry, river crossing and landing.
5th Infantry Corps - 5th, 12th, 25th, 45th Infantry Divisions, 103rd tank brigade, 75th and 80th light infantry brigades, self-propelled gun brigade, MLRS brigade, river crossing brigade.
The 620th Artillery Corps includes seven self-propelled gun brigades and six MLRS brigades.
The second echelon is located directly behind the first and consists of the most powerful tank and mechanized formations of the KPA ground forces. If the DPRK starts the war first, then the task of the second echelon is to develop an offensive into the depths of the South Korean defense (including the capture of Seoul) after its breakthrough by the forces of the first echelon. If South Korea and the United States start the war first, the second echelon of the KPA must eliminate possible enemy breakthroughs through the location of the first echelon. The second echelon includes a tank and two mechanized corps.
806th Mechanized Corps - 4th, 7th, 47th and two more mechanized brigades, a light infantry brigade, a self-propelled gun brigade.
815th Mechanized Corps - 26th and four more mechanized brigades, a light infantry brigade, a self-propelled gun brigade.
820th Tank Corps - 105th Armored Division, three armored brigades, 15th mechanized brigade, self-propelled gun brigade, MLRS brigade.
The third echelon provides the defense of Pyongyang and is a reserve and training base for the first two echelons. Includes five infantry and one artillery corps.
3rd Infantry Corps - five infantry divisions (including two training reserves), tank and artillery brigades.
6th Infantry Corps - three infantry divisions (including two training reserves), an artillery brigade.
7th Infantry Corps - 10th and 20th Infantry Divisions, four training reserve divisions, 87th Light Infantry Brigade, artillery brigade.
12th Infantry Corps - motorized infantry and infantry divisions, tank and artillery brigades.
91st Infantry Corps for the Defense of the Capital - four motorized infantry brigades, an MLRS brigade.
Kandong Artillery Corps - six artillery and MLRS brigades each.
The fourth echelon is located along the border of the DPRK with the PRC and the Russian Federation. It is, like the third, a training reserve, as well as a “echelon of last hope”. Includes two mechanized and four infantry corps.
108th and 425th mechanized corps have the same structure - five mechanized brigades, light infantry brigade, self-propelled gun brigade.
The 10th and 11th Infantry Corps also have the same structure - one infantry and one training reserve division, and an MLRS brigade.
8th Infantry Corps - three infantry divisions (including one training reserve), tank and artillery brigades.
9th Infantry Corps - 24th and 42nd Infantry Divisions, training reserve infantry division, MLRS brigade. It is this corps that has the border with the Russian Federation in its area of responsibility.
In addition, the ground forces include 4 border guards (25th, 27th, 29th, 31st) and 22 engineering (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 21st , 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th, 31st, 33rd, 35th, 37th, 39th, 41st, 42nd, 45th, 47 -i, 49th, 51st, 53rd, 55th) brigades.
The KPA tank fleet includes up to 4 thousand main and at least 250 light tanks. The oldest are the Soviet T-54 and T-55 (1000 of each) and their Chinese copies Tour 59 (175). Not much newer are the Soviet T-62s, of which there are 500. On their basis, the DPRK itself created the Chonma family of tanks (a total of at least 470 units). The most modern North Korean tank is the Songun-915, known in the West and in Russia under the name Pokpun-ho. It is also created on the basis of the T-62, but using more modern technologies Soviet tanks T-72 and T-80. Carries a 125-mm cannon, a 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun, coaxial launchers of the Balso-3 ATGM (a copy of the Soviet Kornet ATGM) and Hwa Song Chon MANPADS (a copy of the Igla-1), no other tank there is no such set of weapons in the world. To date, 200-400 Songun-915 tanks have been produced.
Light tanks - 100 Soviet PT-76, 50 Chinese Toure 62, at least 100 own PT-85 "Shinhen" (an amphibious tank with an 85-mm cannon).
There are 222 Soviet BMP-1s, as well as more than 1.5 thousand armored personnel carriers. The oldest are up to 600 Soviet BTR-40 and BTR-152. Not much newer are the Soviet BTR-60 (250 units), BTR-50 (50) and our own Type-73, created on the basis of the Chinese Toure 531 and better known as VTT-323 (at least 500 vehicles). The most modern are 32 Russian armored personnel carriers-80A and up to 100 Type-69 armored personnel carriers created on their basis in the DPRK itself.
KPA artillery includes numerous towed guns of Soviet, Chinese and own production. This is 500 A-19 and M-30, 300 D-74, 188 D-30 (122 mm), 50 Tour 59-1, 160 M-46 and up to 1000 similar guns of our own production (130 mm), 200 D- 20 and 100 ML-20 (152 mm). A significant part of these guns in the DPRK itself were converted into self-propelled guns by installing them on the ATS-59 tracked transporter. In this way, self-propelled guns M-1976 and M-1978 (122 mm), M-1974 (130 mm), M-1972 (152 mm) were created. In addition, there are at least 60 M-1973 and M-1983 Juche-po self-propelled guns (170 mm) with a firing range of up to 60 km, as well as a number of M-1991 self-propelled guns (122 mm). Thus, total Self-propelled guns and towed guns exceed 3 thousand units. Mortars (up to 7.5 thousand) were mainly created in the DPRK itself: M-1976 (82 mm), M-1978 (120 mm), M-1982 (140 mm). There are also 1,000 Soviet 120mm M-43 mortars. The number of MLRS exceeds 5 thousand units. This is at least 3,774 Chinese towed Toure 63, produced under license in the DPRK itself (107 mm), at least 500 Soviet BM-21, own BM-11, M-1973, M-1990 (122 mm), 100 Chinese Toure 63 ( 130 mm), 50 Soviet towed RPU -14 and 100 BM-14 (140 mm), at least 200 own M-1968 and Soviet BMD-20 (200 mm), from 200 to 500 Soviet BM-24, own M-1984 and M-1990 (240 mm).
Anti-tank weapons of the KPA - ATGM "Malyutka", "Konkurs", up to 1.1 thousand ATGM "Fagot", as well as at least 1 thousand self-propelled anti-tank missiles M-1974 (100 mm).
In terms of the number of almost all classes of equipment, the KPA ground forces occupy at least 4th place in the world. Such a huge amount of it largely compensates for its archaic nature. This especially applies to artillery, in terms of the number of barrels of which the KPA is in second place in the world after the PLA. North Korean artillery is capable of creating a real “sea of fire” in the front-line zone, but it is physically impossible to suppress such a quantity of artillery.
Air Force The DPRK organizationally consists of 6 air divisions and 3 anti-aircraft missile brigades.
1st Air Division: 24th Bomber Wing (equipped with old Chinese N-5 bombers, based on the Soviet Il-28), 35th Fighter Wing (Chinese J-6 fighters, copies of the Soviet MiG-19), 55th attack air regiment (the most modern attack aircraft of the North Korean Air Force - Su-25 attack aircraft), the 57th fighter air regiment (the most modern fighters DPRK Air Force - MiG-29), 60th Fighter Regiment (MiG-23ML/UB and MiG-21PFM fighters), two transport air regiments (An-2 aircraft and their Chinese counterparts Y-5), helicopter regiment.
2nd Air Division: Bomber Regiment (N-5), 46th Fighter Regiment (J-6, MiG-21), 56th Fighter Regiment (MiG-21PFM/bis), 58th Fighter Regiment (MiG-23ML) /UB), the 72nd fighter air regiment (MiG-21, J-7), as well as three more fighter air regiments, a transport air regiment (An-2/Y-5), and a helicopter regiment.
3rd Air Division: 4th and 11th Fighter Wings (armed with the oldest J-5 fighter in the DPRK Air Force, a Chinese copy of the MiG-17), 86th Fighter Wing (J-6, MiG-21), 303- 1st Fighter Wing (J-6), Helicopter Regiment.
The 5th Transport Air Division includes five transport air regiments.
The 6th Transport Air Division includes Air Koryo, which includes: passenger aircraft, mainly transporting higher officials DPRK and KPA. Also in the 6th Air Division there are seven helicopter regiments, incl. the only regiment attack helicopters Mi-24 and the 64th regiment of American MD-500 helicopters acquired by the DPRK in the 80s. through several intermediaries.
The 8th Air Training Division includes aviation academy and four regiments of training aircraft.
Anti-aircraft missile brigades - 3rd, 66th, 116th.
The strike aviation of the KPA Air Force includes from up to 86 extremely outdated Chinese N-5 bombers, from 18 to 27 almost the same old Su-7 attack aircraft, 34-35 relatively new Su-25 attack aircraft (including 4 UBK) and up to 40 "intermediate" in age Chinese attack aircraft Q-5.
Fighters - up to 159 extremely outdated Chinese J-5 and Soviet MiG-17, up to 109 slightly newer J-6 and MiG-19, up to 230 MiG-21 and J-7 (including up to 140 MiG-21F- 13 and PFM, up to 30 J-7, up to 34 MiG-21bis, up to 30 MiG-21UM), up to 56 MiG-23 (up to 46 ML and UB, up to 10 P), from 16 to 35 relatively modern MiG-29 ( including from 1 to 6 combat training MiG-29UB).
There are 2 electronic warfare aircraft based on the transport An-24 (another 1 may be in storage).
The DPRK does not have transport aviation in the classical sense. Airline Koryo has 3 Il-76, 4 Il-62, up to 5 An-24, 1-2 An-148, up to 14 Il-14, 2-3 Il-18, 2 Tu-134, 3 Tu-154 (1 more in storage), 2 Tu-204, they are designed to transport management and some critical cargo. Up to 300 An-2 and Y-5 are used by the special forces to transport special forces groups.
Training aircraft - up to 35 MiG-15bis, MiG-15UTI and JJ-2, up to 47 CJ-6, up to 99 CJ-5 and Yak-18, up to 135 JJ-5 (training version of J-5) and MiG-17U.
Combat helicopters– from 20 to 47 Mi-24D.
Multi-purpose helicopters - up to 68 Mi-8T and Mi-17, 4 Mi-26, up to 108 Mi-2, up to 23 Z-5 (Chinese copy of the Mi-4) and the Mi-4 itself (1 more in storage), from 5 up to 8 Mi-14 amphibious helicopters, up to 65 MD-500E (1 MD-500C and 20 D, possibly in storage).
All ground-based air defense is included in the Air Force. It consists of 2 regiments (6 divisions) of the S-200 air defense system (36 launchers), 41 divisions of the S-75 air defense system (246 launchers), 32 divisions of the S-125 air defense system (128 launchers), at least 1 division of the KN-06 air defense system ( at least 8 PU). The KN-06 is a local version of the Soviet S-300PT/PS air defense system or the Chinese HQ-9. There are also at least 10 Strela-10 air defense systems, modernized in the DPRK itself.
There are up to 6 thousand MANPADS in service (4.5 thousand Strela-2 and their Chinese copies HN-5, 1.5 thousand Igla-1 and their local copies NT-16РGJ), up to 11 thousand. ZSU and anti-aircraft guns, incl. up to 250 ZSU-57-2, 148 ZSU-23-4, 1.5 thousand ZU-23, 1 thousand 61-K (37 mm), 400 KS-12 (85 mm), 524 KS-19 (100 mm).
Almost all of the KPA Air Force and Air Defense equipment is extremely outdated, even the Su-25, MiG-29 and KN-06 can only be considered relatively new. To a certain extent this is compensated big amount, but in this case the quantity factor is much less important than for ground forces. However, the actions of any enemy aircraft at low altitudes will be extremely difficult due to mountainous terrain and a huge amount MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns in North Korean air defense. Old planes may well be used as kamikazes, incl. and with nuclear weapons.
Navy The DPRK is divided into the Western Fleet (includes 5 naval regions, 6 squadrons) and the Eastern Fleet (7 naval fleets, 10 squadrons). Due to geopolitical reasons, the exchange of ships between fleets is impossible even in peacetime, so each fleet relies on its own shipbuilding base.
In terms of the number of combat units, the DPRK Navy may be the largest in the world, but almost all of these units are extremely primitive. In particular, North Korean ships and boats do not have air defense systems at all. However, the DPRK Navy has very significant potential for operations in coastal waters. Their greatest strength is the presence of a large number of small submarines, capable of both landing special forces groups on the enemy coast and operating against enemy ships in shallow waters. During regular skirmishes between North Korean and South Korean combat boats, the advantage, as a rule, is on the side of the former.
The basis of the submarine fleet is made up of 22 old submarines, Project 633/033 (Soviet, Chinese, and our own). It is possible that up to 4 very old Soviet submarines, Project 613, have survived. There are 30-40 small submarines “Sang-O” (built according to our own design), 23 ultra-small submarines “Yugo” (Yugoslav project; another 10 in reserve) and up to 10 “ Yono" (Iranian project "Ghadir").
In service are at least 2 patrol ships (frigates) of the Najin type, 1 catamaran frigate Soho (possibly decommissioned), up to 30 corvettes (1-2 Tral type, 4 Sarivon type, 5-6 Chinese Tour 037 "Hainan", 12-13 "Daejon" type, 2-3 newest type"Nampo").
Missile boats - up to 8 old Soviet Project 205, 4 of their Chinese analogues of Project 021, up to 10 of their local analogues of the Soju type, up to 6 very old Soviet Project 183R, up to 6 of their local analogues of the Sohung type, up to 6 the latest proprietary Nongo type (with local analogues of the Russian Kh-35 Uran anti-ship missiles).
The DPRK Navy is practically the only fleet in the world that continues to operate torpedo boats en masse (mostly of its own designs). This is up to 100 hydrofoil boats of the Sing Hong type, 42 of the Kuson type, up to 3 Soviet Project 206M, up to 13 Soviet Project 183. It is possible that all boats of the last 4 types have already been decommissioned. Patrol boats - 54 "Chongjin" type, from 18 to 33 "Sinpo" type, 59 "Chaho" type, 6 "Chongzhu" type, from 13 to 23 Chinese project 062 "Shanghai-2", 19 Soviet project 201M, up to 3 types “Chodo”, up to 4 types “Shanyotu”. The last two types of boats are most likely decommissioned.
Minesweepers - 19 Yukto-1 type, 5 Yukto-2 type, up to 6 Pipa-go type boats.
Landing ships and boats are focused on conducting operations only within the Korean Peninsula itself, so they are small, but there are a lot of them. These are 10 Hanto-type TDKs, 18 Hunnam-type TDKs, 15 Hanchon-type TDKs, 51 Chongjin-type landing crafts, 96 Nampo-type landing crafts, 140 Konban-type hovercrafts.
Coastal defense covers the entire coast of the DPRK. It consists of 6 brigades (11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 21st). Includes a significant number of Chinese HY-1 and HY-2 anti-ship missile systems, Soviet Sopka anti-ship missile systems, SM-4-1, M-1992, M-46, ML-20 guns.
In general, the noticeable technical backwardness of the KPA is largely compensated by the huge number of weapons, equipment and personnel, good level combat training and fanaticism of military personnel. In addition, the KPA is very well adapted to operate in conditions mountainous area, occupying most of the Korean Peninsula. This makes her a most dangerous opponent even for three strongest armies world (American, Chinese, Russian) and completely invincible for everyone else.
Nowadays, the DPRK is often compared to the great and terrible Mordor. Like the latter, practically nothing is known about Korea, but everyone knows how difficult and scary it is to live there. Meanwhile, although it is inferior to the Republic of Korea, it is significantly superior in this indicator to India, Pakistan, and even some countries of Eastern Europe. In addition, the DPRK is one of the most powerful, even if they are armed with far from the most modern weapons.
No help and no hope?
Like the entire economy of this closed state, its armed forces are built according to a very intelligent principle. It is translated into Russian as “reliance on one’s own strength.” Of course, this country at one time received military assistance from the USSR and China. Only now the “lafa” is over: Pyongyang simply has nothing to pay Russia for new equipment, and the PRC is not enthusiastic about the “Juche ideas,” although it officially supports them. However, there is one country that really helps the DPRK. We are talking about Iran. They suspect, in particular, that it was from the DPRK that they received the technologies that made it possible to create nuclear weapons.
So, don't underestimate the Koreans. The country has a powerful industrial complex that can produce almost all types of more or less modern weapons from scratch. Koreans cannot make only airplanes and helicopters, but they can easily assemble them with a screwdriver, provided they have imported components. Since the DPRK is an extremely closed state, there is no exact information about the troops and equipment available there; all information is approximate, based on analysts’ estimates.
But do not underestimate their work and the work of intelligence: in recent years we have learned many secrets that the DPRK army keeps. The number of Juche troops, by the way, is about 1.2 million people! Our country’s army size is approximately the same, but if we compare the sizes of states... It is believed that almost every third adult man and woman serves with the northerners. But! The DPRK is significantly inferior to that of the South. The advantage of the DPRK is that almost the entire adult and capable population of the country is in one way or another related to the army, but in the Republic of Korea the situation with this is much more deplorable. So the opponents' forces are approximately equal.
Currently, the Minister of the Armed Forces of the DPRK is Hyon Yong Chol. By the way, not so long ago, the press of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the world media diligently circulated rumors that he had been shot... But the “innocently murdered” minister soon after appeared on the screens and clearly demonstrated that the rumors about his death were somewhat exaggerated.
Rocket Forces
It is known that the northerners have a lot nuclear missiles with a decent range. There is information about three Nodon-1 divisions. Each such missile can carry a nuclear warhead to a distance of at least 1.3 thousand kilometers. There is also a whole “brood” of weapons created on the basis of the Soviet R-17 model. Among them are the Hwasong-5 missiles (range of at least 300 kilometers). The Hwasong-6 model is somewhat better (range of up to 500 kilometers). The Koreans did not ignore the Tochka-U missile, creating the KN-02 on its basis. The DPRK also has real antiques in its arsenal in the form of the Luna-M model.
In recent years, there have also been reports that the country is developing intercontinental missiles"Taepodong" model. Almost all experts agree that the DPRK Armed Forces do not have specialists capable of creating nuclear warheads for them. The fact is that such missile warheads have extremely stringent requirements for reliability and resistance to overloads, and even Iran does not have such technologies.
Two echelons of defense
Let us immediately note that the backbone of the Korean layered defense are special forces, and in such quantities that other countries have never even dreamed of. It is known that the northern special operations forces number up to 90 thousand people, so they may well be ahead of even the United States in this indicator. There are both land and naval special forces. Of course, the northerners also have plenty of other troops. Like this in general outline The Armed Forces of the DPRK are organized, the composition of which will be discussed in more detail below.
Their first echelon is located on the border with South Korea and consists of infantry and artillery formations. If North Korea is the first to enter the war, the DPRK Armed Forces will have to begin breaking through the southern border fortifications. If the latter start the war, this same echelon will become a barrier preventing enemy troops from penetrating into the interior of the country. The first echelon consists of four infantry and one artillery corps. Infantry units include tank and aviation regiments, as well as self-propelled artillery units.
The second echelon contains the most powerful tank and other motorized units. His task when the DPRK enters the war first is to develop a breakthrough and destroy those enemy groups that will resist. If the northerners are attacked by the southerners, the tank formations will have to eliminate the enemy troops that have broken through and who manage to get through the first echelon. These units include not only tank and self-propelled regiments, but also MLRS units.
Third and fourth echelons
In this case, the DPRK army not only has to defend Pyongyang itself, but also serves as a training base. It consists of five infantry and one artillery corps. There are tank and motorized infantry regiments, several MLRS and missile defense units. The fourth echelon is located on the border with China and Russia. This includes squads of tankers, self-propelled gunners, anti-aircraft gunners, artillerymen, and light infantry. Like the third, the fourth echelon is training and reserve.
The armor is strong
It is believed that the DPRK army has at least five thousand main battle tanks and about five thousand light tanks. The core consists of about three thousand T-55s and their Chinese clones (Type-59). There are also about a thousand T-62s. They served as the basis for the creation of our own Korean model “Chonma”. Most likely, there are significantly less than a thousand of these vehicles in the army.
You should not assume that the Koreans only have “antiques” in their arsenal. There is a more or less modern version of the MBT, called “Pokpun-ho”. This tank also traces its lineage back to the old T-62, but its creation used technologies that underlie the much more modern T-72 and T-80.
The KPVT, equipped with a powerful 125 mm cannon, is presented as auxiliary weapons. Digressing from the topic, let's say that this machine gun Among the northerners in general he enjoys indescribable honor. For preventive protection against enemy armored vehicles, the Balso-3 ATGM launcher (nothing more than our Kornet) and the Hwa Song Chon MANPADS ( absolute analogue"Needles-1"). It’s difficult to say how all this will behave in battle, but in principle, no other tank in the world has such weapons. Presumably, the DPRK army has no more than 200-300 Songun-915 tanks.
Light armor
The country is armed with about 500 light Soviet PT-76s, as well as about a hundred PT-85 “Shinhen” (an amphibious tank based on a Soviet amphibious tank, equipped with an 85mm gun). It is unknown how many BMP-1s the Koreans have, but there are probably a lot. No less than an armored personnel carrier. It is assumed that the DPRK has at least a thousand very antique BTR-40 and BTR-152. But there are still about 150 analogues of the Soviet BTR-80A (both Soviet vehicles and our own designs).
Gods of war
The DPRK army is armed with at least five thousand self-propelled guns, about four thousand towed guns, approximately eight thousand mortars various designs, about the same number of MLRS systems. The real pride of the northerners is the M-1973/83 “Juche-po” (170 mm). These trunks make it easy to reach the territory of the southerners from deep in the rear.
Thus, in terms of equipment, the DPRK army, whose weapons we are considering, is at a fairly high level. Everything would be fine, but all this technology (for the most part) is very outdated. But don't frown contemptuously. In terms of the number of artillery pieces, the DPRK is in second place in the world, second only to the PLA. Even if the ROK troops, with the support of the United States, move into battle, these guns are capable of creating a real sea of fire in the front line. It won't even help here American aviation. All this can only be suppressed by a targeted nuclear strike, and hardly anyone will do this.
Aviation is on the move
The armed forces of the DPRK, photos of which are repeatedly found in the article, are relatively well equipped, but the northerners have a real problem with aviation. In total, the North has no more than 700 aircraft in service. All bombers and attack aircraft are very old, almost the same age as the century. The very antediluvian MiG-21... and even MiG-17 are used as fighters. It is clear that they cannot compete with any modern aircraft of this class purely physically. But there is still evidence that the DPRK has a certain number of MiG-29s. But there is no exact information about the number and location of these aircraft.
The Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have no transport workers at all. Oddly enough, the country has a number of Il-76, Tu-154 and similar aircraft, but all of them are intended exclusively for transporting high-ranking government officials, as well as for emergency transfers of some especially necessary cargo. It is known that the northerners have about 300 An-2 (“corn makers”), as well as a number of their Chinese copies. These aircraft are designed for the covert transport of special forces groups. In addition, the Korean Air Force has something like 350 multi-purpose and attack helicopters. Among them there are not only Soviet Mi-24s, but also several American models, the acquisition of which had to involve a whole chain of intermediaries.
Air defense
So, what is the DPRK army covering the sky with? Air defense weapons belong to the Air Force (even ground units). The composition includes truly antique models, including the S-75 and S-125 air defense systems. The most modern is the S-200 air defense system. However, the KN-06 is also in service, which is a local variation of the Russian S-300. There are also at least six thousand MANPADS (mostly Iglas), as well as up to 11 thousand various types of anti-aircraft guns and self-propelled guns.
Unlike the ground forces, whose outdated equipment can more or less cope with the tasks assigned to it, everything is bad in aviation. Almost all the cars are very old, they are completely unsuitable for modern conditions fighting. Again, even the factor of quantity plays practically no role here, because the Koreans simply have few outdated aircraft. However, it is simply stupid to completely discount aviation: a large number of mountains, a complex landscape and other factors will allow, if necessary, even this “zoo” of technical antiques to be used with high efficiency.
So the DPRK army, the number of which is indicated above, will certainly cause a lot of problems for opponents in the event of full-scale hostilities.
South Korea
The southern troops were trained by the Americans and armed with their own weapons. It is generally accepted that the army of the Republic of Kazakhstan is much smaller than that of its warlike northern neighbor, but this is not at all true: yes, the number of constantly mobilized does not exceed 650 thousand, but there are another 4.5 million people in reserve. In short, the human resource forces are almost equal. In addition, American army units are permanently stationed on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Therefore, it is not surprising that the very structure of the southern troops is noticeably different from the Soviet structure that is familiar to us. So the Armed Forces of the DPRK and the ROK are two antipodes: the northerners have numerous, but outdated weapons, while the south has fewer “means of democratization,” but the quality of their weapons is much better.
The most numerous are the ground forces, in whose ranks up to 560 thousand people serve. Their classification is very complex; the “land forces” include armored, chemical, artillery formations, radiological protection units, air defense, and other types of troops. So, in order to compare the Armed Forces of the DPRK and South Korea, it will be useful for us to learn about the resources that the South has.
Basic information on weapons
The southerners have at least two thousand tanks. Artillery barrels - about 12 thousand. Anti-tank artillery, including ATGMs - also about 12 thousand. There are about a thousand anti-aircraft systems. Also, one of the main striking forces is about one and a half thousand infantry fighting vehicles of various modifications. At least 500 combat attack helicopters are assigned to the ground forces.
There are 22 divisions in total. They are divided into three armies, the leadership of which is at the same time the superior of all educational institutions, in which young personnel are trained for the army. Note that it is the ground forces that are the core of the system general security ROK and the United States, with the combined Korean and American forces being commanded through a common command center staffed by officers from both countries.
Interaction of armies
Of course, the armed forces of the DPRK and South Korea equally understand the importance of interaction between different forces in battle, but the southerners approached this issue with great diligence. Almost constantly, exercises are held to test the practice of interaction between armies and military units, and work is carried out not only with the United States, but also with Japan and other allies of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the region.
Bet on modernity
Southerners rely on the latest developments in the field of military science and technology. Particular attention is paid to improving military intelligence and communications. Moreover, the emphasis is placed not only on our own developments, but also on those samples that were purchased from the United States in the form of finished products or technologies. It was from the Americans that the M270 and M270A1 PU launch systems were purchased, from which it is possible to launch the American ATACMS missiles of the first modification and ATACMS modification 1A. In the first case, the fire range is 190 kilometers, in the second - 300 kilometers.
Simply put, the Armed Forces of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea are completely equivalent in this regard: they can reach the enemy’s capitals from their territory without putting much effort into it. For this purpose, the northerners have to modernize ancient Soviet developments, while the government of the South prefers to simply buy everything it needs from its allies. The step, however, is highly controversial.
The ROK Army is not too fond of disclosing information about its weapons. It is only known that the southerners have at least 250 launchers of both modifications. In addition, there is information about ongoing developments in the field of creating our own missile weapons.
New armor
All the most powerful armies in the region, that is, the army of the DPRK and South Korea, give great value creation and development of powerful armored forces. But if the northerners do not have the resources to create their own tanks from scratch, then the Republic of Kazakhstan has such capabilities. This is how the K1A1 (“Black Panther”) model was created. The predecessor of the new tank was the old KI modification. Note that the remaining 200 units of these tanks are currently being upgraded to the Panther level. The pride of the southerners is the 155-mm K-9 self-propelled howitzers of their own design, characterized by excellent rate of fire and shooting accuracy.
In addition, work is currently underway to create South Korean combat vehicles "Piho" and the air defense system "Chonma". The K200A1 infantry fighting vehicles previously created by the Koreans continue to be relatively actively supplied to the troops. The combat aviation fleet also continues to be updated: in particular, it recently became known about the complete modernization of the attack helicopter fleet. In addition to overhauling existing machines, the leadership of the Republic of Kazakhstan intends to purchase new ones abroad. Also, the southerners seriously want to get rid of the antediluvian UH-1 “Iroquois” and “Hughes” 500MD, and therefore work began at the same time on creating a new multi-purpose helicopter for military and civil purposes.
Unmanned aircraft
Back in 2001, the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with Israel, created a UAV of the Knight Ingrudsr model. This multifunctional device, which can be used for military and peaceful purposes, including reconnaissance, striking local targets, meteorological research, etc. In 2010, several UAV battalions were formed, each of which has 18-24 drones and up to 64 units of transport and communication equipment. All these measures made it possible to dramatically improve interaction between different branches of the military due to excellent reconnaissance.
More than half a century ago, one of the bloodiest military conflicts of the second half of the last century ended - the war on the Korean Peninsula. It lasted more than three years and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. After it, 80% of the transport and industrial infrastructure of both Korean states were destroyed, millions of Koreans lost their homes or became refugees. Legally, this war continued for many more decades, since the agreement on reconciliation and non-aggression between South Korea and the DPRK was signed only in 1991.
Since then, the Korean Peninsula has remained a constant source of tension. The situation in this region either calms down, then again heats up to a dangerous degree, threatening to develop into the Second Korean War, which will inevitably involve neighboring countries, including the United States and China. The situation worsened further after Pyongyang acquired nuclear weapons. Now every missile or nuclear test, which is held by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is causing serious international excitement. Recently, such exacerbations occur at intervals of once every one to two years.
In 2018, the next Korean crisis coincided with the start of the new US President Donald Trump, who, even during the election campaign, promised the Americans to solve the DPRK problem once and for all. However, despite the belligerent rhetoric and a significant build-up of strike forces in the region, the Americans never dared to start a large-scale war on the peninsula. What is the reason? Why did the American army - by far the strongest on the planet today - never decide to begin military action?
The answer is very simple. For more than sixty years, the North Koreans have managed to create one of the strongest and most numerous armies in the world, a fight with which will be a serious test for any enemy. Today, the DPRK has a million people under arms, a large air force, ballistic missiles and an impressive submarine fleet.
North Korea is the last communist totalitarian state on the planet; in terms of the severity of the regime, it even surpasses the USSR of the Stalinist period. A planned economy still operates here, famines occur from time to time, dissenters are sent to concentration camps, and public executions are commonplace for North Koreans.
North Korea is a closed country, foreigners rarely visit it, and information about the state of the North Korean economy is classified. It is even more difficult to obtain information about the North Korean army, its numbers and weapons.
According to experts, the DPRK army today ranks fourth (some say fifth) in size in the world. The DPRK army parade is a truly impressive spectacle that takes the viewer back to the last century. North Korea has long been under international sanctions, which are periodically strengthened after Pyongyang carries out another missile launch or nuclear explosion.
North Korea's military budget is small due to the country's poor economic situation. In 2013 it was only $5 billion. However, over the past decades, the DPRK has been turned into one huge military camp, constantly awaiting attack from South Korea or the United States.
So, what forces does the current leadership of the DPRK have, what are the armed forces of this country, what is Pyongyang’s nuclear potential? However, before moving on to consider current state armed forces of North Korea, a few words should be said about their history.
History of the DPRK Army
The first Korean paramilitary forces were created in the early 30s of the last century in China. They were led by communists and fought by Koreans against Japanese occupiers. By the end of World War II, the Korean People's Army had a strength of 188 thousand people. One of the army commanders was Kim Il Sung, the actual creator of the DPRK and the first of the Kim dynasty, which ruled for almost half a century.
After the end of the war, Korea was divided into two halves - the northern, which was under the control of the USSR, and the southern, which was actually occupied by American troops. June 25, 1950 North Korean troops, having a significant superiority in manpower and equipment, crossed the 38th parallel and moved south. Initially, the campaign went very well for the North: Seoul fell three days later, and soon the communist armed forces captured up to 90% of the territory of South Korea.
Only a small area known as the Busan Perimeter remained under the control of the South Korean government. However, the northerners failed to defeat the enemy with lightning speed, and soon the Western allies came to the aid of the South Koreans.
In September 1950, the Americans intervened in the war, encircling and defeating the North Korean army in a matter of weeks. Only a miracle could save the DPRK from complete defeat, and it happened. At the end of 1950, an army of thousands of Chinese crossed the border into North Korea and drove the Americans and South Koreans far to the south. Seoul and Pyongyang returned to North control.
The fighting continued with varying success until 1953, by which time the front line had more or less stabilized near the old border of the two Koreas - the 38th parallel. The turning point of the war was the death of Stalin, shortly after which Soviet Union decided to leave the conflict. China, left alone with the Western coalition, agreed to a truce. But a peace treaty, which usually ends any armed conflict, has not yet been signed between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea.
Over the next decades, North Korea continued to build communism, its main allies being the Soviet Union and China. All this time, the North Koreans invested heavily in the development of the armed forces and the military-industrial complex. The situation in the DPRK deteriorated significantly after the collapse of the socialist camp and the imposition of Western sanctions against the country. In 2013, during another escalation, the DPRK leadership broke all non-aggression treaties with its southern neighbor, and also annulled the agreement on the denuclearization of the peninsula.
According to various estimates, the current strength of the DPRK army ranges from 850 thousand to 1.2 million people. Another 4 million people are in the immediate reserve; in total, 10 million people are suitable for military service. The population of the DPRK is 24.7 million people. That is, 4-5% of the population serves in the North Korean armed forces, which can be called a real world record.
The North Korean army is a conscript army; both men and women serve in it. The service life ranges from 5 to 12 years. The conscription age is 17 years.
The general management of the security and defense sphere of North Korea, according to the country's constitution, is carried out by State Committee Defense (GKO), headed by the modern leader of the country, Kim Jong-un. The State Defense Committee controls the work of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, as well as other law enforcement agencies. It is the Defense Committee that can declare martial law in the country, carry out mobilization and demobilization, manage reserves and the military-industrial complex. The Ministry of War includes several departments: Political, Operational and Logistics Department. Direct operational control of the DPRK armed forces is exercised by the General Staff.
The DPRK armed forces consist of:
- Ground Forces;
- Navy;
- Air Force;
- Special Operations Forces.
In addition, the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Public Security have their own troops. There are also other paramilitary formations: the Workers' and Peasants' Red Guard, the Youth Red Guard, and various people's squads.
Most (and the best) of the country's armed forces are deployed in close proximity to the demilitarized zone.
North Korea has a very developed military-industrial complex. It is capable of providing the country's armed forces with almost the entire range of weapons and ammunition, with the exception of combat and transport aircraft.
Ground troops
The basis of the DPRK's armed forces is its ground forces. The main structural units of the ground forces are the brigade, division, corps and army. Currently, the North Korean army includes 20 corps, including 4 mechanized, 12 infantry, one armored, 2 artillery and a corps providing the defense of the capital.
Figures regarding the amount of military equipment in service with the ground forces of the DPRK army vary greatly. In the event of war, North Korean generals will be able to count on 4.2 thousand tanks (light, medium and main), 2.5 thousand armored personnel carriers and 10 thousand artillery pieces and mortars (according to other sources, 8.8 thousand).
In addition, the DPRK ground forces are armed with a large number of multiple launch rocket systems (from 2.5 thousand to 5.5 thousand units). The North Korean Armed Forces have both operational-tactical and tactical missile systems, their total number is 50-60 units. The DPRK army is armed with more than 10 thousand anti-aircraft artillery installations and approximately the same number of MANPADS.
If we talk about armored vehicles, most of them are represented by outdated Soviet models or their Chinese copies: tanks T-55, PT-85, Pokphunho (local modification), BMP-1, BTR-60 and BTR-80, BTR-40 (several hundred pieces) and VTT-323, created on the basis of the Chinese VTT-323 infantry fighting vehicle. There is information that the Korean People's Army still uses even Soviet T-34-85s, preserved from the Korean War.
North Korean ground forces have a large number of different anti-tank weapons missile systems, most of them are old Soviet models: “Malyutka”, “Bumblebee”, “”, “”.
Air Force
The strength of the Korean People's Army Air Force is approximately 100 thousand people. The service life in the Air Force and Air Defense Forces is 3-4 years.
The DPRK Air Force consists of four commands, each of which is responsible for its own direction, and six air divisions. The country's air force operates 1,100 aircraft and helicopters, making them one of the most numerous in the world. The North Korean Air Force has 11 air bases, most of which are located near the South Korean border.
The basis of the Air Force's aircraft fleet is made up of obsolete Soviet or Chinese-made aircraft: MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, as well as Su-25 and MiG-29. The same can be said about combat helicopters, the vast majority of them are Soviet machines, Mi-4, Mi-8 and Mi-24. There are also 80 Hughes-500D helicopters.
North Korea has a fairly powerful air defense system, which includes about 9 thousand different anti-aircraft artillery systems. True, all North Korean air defense systems are Soviet systems from the 60s or 70s of the last century: S-75, S-125, S-200, Kub air defense systems. It should be noted that the DPRK has many of these complexes (about a thousand units).
Naval forces
The North Korean Navy has a strength of approximately 60 thousand people (as of 2012). It is divided into two components: the East Sea Fleet (operating in the Sea of Japan) and the West Sea Fleet (designed to carry out combat missions in the Korean Gulf and the Yellow Sea).
Today, the North Korean Navy includes approximately 650 ships, their total displacement exceeds 100 thousand tons. North Korea has a fairly powerful submarine fleet. It consists of about one hundred submarines different types and displacement. The DPRK's submarine fleet is capable of carrying ballistic missiles with a nuclear warhead.
Most of the ship composition of the DPRK Navy is represented by boats of various types: missile, torpedo, artillery and landing craft. However, there are also larger vessels: five corvettes with guided missiles, almost two dozen small anti-submarine ships. The main task of the North Korean naval forces is to cover the coast and coastal zone.
Special Operations Forces
North Korea probably has the most numerous Special Operations Forces in the world. Various sources Their number is estimated to be from 80 to 125 thousand military personnel. The forces' tasks include reconnaissance and sabotage operations, countering US and South Korean special forces, and organizing partisan movements behind enemy lines.
The DPRK MTR includes reconnaissance units, light infantry and sniper units.
Rocket Forces
In 2005, North Korea officially announced the creation of its own nuclear weapons. Since then, one of the priorities of the country's military-industrial complex has been the creation of missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Part missile weapons The DPRK armed forces are old Soviet missiles or their copies. For example, “Hwasong-11” or “Toksa” is a tactical missile, a copy of the Soviet “Tochka-U” with a flight range of 100 km, or “Hwasong-5” is an analogue of the Soviet R-17 missile with a flight range of 300 km.
However, most North Korean missiles are of their own design. North Korea produces ballistic missiles not only for the needs of its army, but also actively exports them. Foreign experts believe that over the past 20 years, Pyongyang has sold about 1.2 thousand ballistic missiles of various types. Among its customers are Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, UAE, Syria and Yemen.
Today the DPRK Armed Forces are armed with:
- Rocket short range Hwasong-6, commissioned in 1990. It is an improved modification of the Hwasong-5 missile with a flight range of up to 700 km. There are believed to be between 300 and 600 of these missiles currently in service;
- Hwasong-7 medium-range missile. Adopted into service in 1997, it can hit targets at a distance of 1300 km;
- The No-Dong-2 medium-range missile, it was put into service in 2004, its flight range is 2 thousand km;
- Hwasong-10 medium-range ballistic missile. It has been in service since 2009, with a flight range of up to 4.5 thousand km. It is believed that Pyongyang may have up to 200 such missiles today;
- Intercontinental ballistic missile "Hwasong-13" with a flight range of up to 7.5 thousand km. It was first shown at the parade in 2012. Hwasong-13 can reach the United States, which naturally causes great concern among Americans. It should also be noted that the DPRK is a member of the club of space states. At the end of 2012, it was launched into earth orbit artificial satellite"Gwangmyeonsong-3".
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
Loading...
