Family counseling 

How do they serve in the army of South Korea. Armed forces of the DPRK: the number of ground forces. Why do we need armies

After the Iraqi Navy and the Bulgarian Air Force, I decided to devote the next block of articles to a no less unstudied topic - the Korean People's Army (KPA). The DPRK itself is a mystery country, and what the KPA is armed with is even less known. so I'll start with small arms.

The armed formations of the Korean anti-Japanese resistance were armed primarily with captured Japanese: 9-mm revolvers "Hino" "type 26" mod. 1893, 8mm pistols "Nambu" mod. 1925 and 1934; 7, 7-mm rifles "Arisaka" "type 99" arr. 1939, 6.5 mm type 96 light machine guns mod. 1936 and "type 97" arr. 1937, 7, 7-mm machine guns "type 92" mod 1932

Japanese revolver "Hino" "type 26" arr. 1893


Japanese pistol "Nambu" type 14 arr. 1925


Japanese 7.7mm rifle "Arisaka" "type 99" arr. 1939


Japanese 6.5 mm light machine gun "Nambu" (Type 96) mod. 1936


japanese 7, 7 mm heavy machine guns "type 92" mod 1932

Partisan detachments operating on the border with China and in Manchuria were armed with Chinese weapons: 7.63 mm Mauser K-96 pistols (for example, the Mauser K-96 was Kim Il Sung's personal weapon), 7.92 mm rifles Mauser arr. 1898 and its Chinese copy "Mauser Chiang Kai-shek", 7.92-mm machine guns ZB vz.26, purchased in large quantities by China in Czechoslovakia in the pre-war period.

North Korean painting depicting Kim Il Sung and his wife Kim Jong Suk firing their Mausers at the advancing Japanese



Chinese copy of the 7.92-mm German rifle "Mauser 98" - "Mauser" Chiang Kai-shek "


Machine gun Zbrojovka Brno ZB vz.26

After the defeat of the Japanese by the Soviet troops, people's militia units were created, which later became the backbone of the Korean People's Army, the creation of which was officially announced on February 8, 1948, that is, seven months before the proclamation of the DPRK itself (September 9, 1948).

The armament of both the people's militia and the created KPA began to receive Soviet small arms: 7, 62-mm TT pistols arr. 1933 and 7, 62-mm revolvers "Nagant" arr. 1895, 7, 62 mm PPSh-41 and PPS-43 submachine guns; 7.62 mm magazine carbines arr. 1938 and arr. 1944; 7.62 mm Mosin repeating rifle mod. 1891 - 1930; 7.62 mm self-loading rifle SVT-40 mod. 1940; 7.62 mm light machine guns DP (DP-27) arr. 1927 and DPM arr. 1944; 7.62-mm company (manual) machine gun RP-46 arr. 1946; 7.62 mm machine gun SG-43 mod. 1943; 7.62 mm machine gun "Maxim" mod. 1910 and 12.7 mm heavy machine gun DShK mod. 1938

So, in March 1950, the USSR decided to supply the following small arms to the DPRK:
7.62 mm rifle mod. 1891/30 years - 22,000 pieces;
7.62 mm carbines mod. 1938 and arr. 1944 - 19,638 units;
7.62 mm sniper rifles - 3000 pcs.
7.62-mm light machine guns "DP" - 2325 pieces;
7.62-mm machine guns "Maxim" - 793 pieces;
14.5 mm anti-tank guns PTRS - 381 pcs.

And in total, before the start of the Korean War, more than 300 thousand rifles, more than 100 thousand carbines, more than 110 thousand submachine guns, and more than 36 thousand machine guns (light, heavy and anti-aircraft) were delivered.


Fighters of the Korean People's Army during the Korean War 1950-1953:

1. Sergeant in summer field uniform, 1950.

2. Private in winter field uniform, 1950 (The figure is controversial, the use of SCS in Korea is unlikely).

3. Colonel in service uniform, 1952.

During the Korean War, China received Chinese copies of Soviet weapons from China: Type 51 and Type 54 (TT) pistols, Type 50 (PPSh) and Type 54 (PPS) submachine guns, and light machine guns. type 53 "(DPM), as well as a copy of the American submachine gun M-3A1 -" type 36 "


student members of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Guards (RKKG) with Chinese submachine guns "type 36" at the parade in honor of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, July 28, 2013

In the DPRK itself, the production of PPSh-41 under the designation "Type 49" and PPS-43 was launched.

After the end of the Korean War, the KPA continued to receive both Soviet and Chinese weapons, as well as weapons of its own production. In North Korea itself, the production of pistols, self-loading carbines, machine guns, light machine guns, and anti-tank grenade launchers was launched. Thus, at present, the North Korean military-industrial complex independently produces 11 types of small arms and its annual production capacity is estimated at 200 thousand units.

Let's take a look at their products:

The main personal self-defense weapon of KPA officers is the Type 68 pistol, created on the basis of the Soviet TT. Its production was organized in 1968. It is shorter and more bulky than the TT or the Chinese counterparts of the Type 51 and Type 54 TTs. They are easily distinguished by the presence of notches in the rear of the Type 68 pistol bolt. Serious changes have been made to the internal mechanisms. The oscillating earring under the breech has been replaced by a cam embedded in a lug under the chamber, similar to the one used in the Browning High Power pistol. The magazine latch has been moved to the outer lower end of the handle. The TT magazine fits this pistol, except for the latch cutout mismatch. The striker is held in the bolt by a plate, and not by a transverse pin, as in the TT. Significantly increased shutter lag. The disadvantage of the pistol is the too large radius of the arc in the back of the frame at the junction of the bolt and the handle, which strongly presses the shooter's hand between the thumb and forefinger. This cannot be corrected without a major change in the design of the trigger mechanism. The locking method is according to the Browning High Power scheme. Currently, the production of the Type 68 pistol has been discontinued,

TACTICAL - TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Caliber - 7, 62 mm
Used cartridge - 7.62x25 TT
The initial speed of the bullet is 395 m / s
Weapon length - 182 mm
Barrel length - 100 mm
Height - 132 mm
Weight - 0.79 / 0.85 kg
Magazine capacity - 8 rounds

On the basis of the Browning pistol of the 1900 model, the Type-64 pistol is produced, using the Browning cartridge 7.65 × 17 HR. With the exception of the name, the Korean pistol is fully consistent with its prototype.

The action of automatic pistol "Type 64" is based on the use of recoil energy. It has a fixed barrel and a massive bolt. The return spring is located above the barrel. The store is designed for 7 rounds. The sighting device is stationary, the lethal range is 30 m. The fuse is located on the left side of the handle and is actuated by the thumb of the right hand. In addition to the standard model, there is a version with a silencer that is screwed onto the barrel thread. This weapon has a shortened bolt body.


Caliber - 7.65 mm
Used cartridge - 7.65x17HR
Muzzle velocity - 290 m/s
Weapon length - 171 mm
Barrel length - 102 mm
Weapon height - 122 mm
Curb weight - 0.624 kg
Magazine capacity - 7 rounds

Pistol Baekdusan ("Pektusan") - North Korean copy of the Czechoslovak pistol CZ-75

TACTICAL - TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Caliber - 9 mm
Used cartridge - 9 × 19 mm Parabellum
Muzzle velocity - 315 m/s
Weapon length - 206 mm
Barrel length - 120 mm
Weapon height - 138 mm
Curb weight - 1, 12 kg
Magazine capacity - 15 rounds


gun Baekdusan


"premium version" of the Baekdusan pistol

In addition to pistols of our own production, Soviet PMs and their Chinese copy, Type 59, are in service.


Chinese PM clone - "Type 59"

The DPRK special forces units are armed with the Czechoslovak submachine gun Vz. 61 "Scorpion" and its modification with a silencer.


a mannequin in the Seoul Military Museum depicting a North Korean submarine saboteur with a Vz. 61 "Scorpion"

PPSh-41 and PPS-43 submachine guns, as well as their Chinese and North Korean copies, as well as Chinese copies of the American M-3A1-"Type 36" are currently decommissioned and transferred to units of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Guard (RKKG), which is the North Korean analogue of the people's militia.


North Korean female members of the RKKG with PPS-43 submachine guns at the parade in honor of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, July 28, 2013

In the DPRK, under the designation "type-63", the Soviet self-loading carbine SKS-45 was also produced. The carbine was produced in three versions: with a needle bayonet, similar to the Chinese Type 56, with a bladed bayonet, with an elongated barrel equipped with a barreled grenade launcher, similar to the Yugoslav Zastava M59 / 66 carbine. Moreover, unlike the Yugoslav version, the North Korean version of the barrel attachment for firing rifle grenades could be removed. Currently, Type 63 carbines are being removed from service with the KPA and transferred to the RKKG, and are also used as ceremonial and ceremonial weapons.


North Korean self-loading carbine "Type 63"


guard of honor of the KPA with carbines "Type 63" in the "ceremonial" performance

Of course, the main small arms of the KPA is the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The first Chinese copies of the AK-47 appeared under the designation "Type 56".


Chinese copy of AK-47-"Type 56"

The North Korean comrades were satisfied with the received machine guns and already in 1958, at the state plant No. 22, the production of copies of the Soviet AK-47 called "Type-58" and its landing version "Type 58B", made of stamped steel with a folding butt, was launched.


North Korean copy of the AK-47 - automatic "Type 58"



KPA fighters with machine guns "Type 58"

North Korean-made assault rifles were rather rough in terms of finish quality, however, like their Soviet counterparts, they were quite reliable and fired in any conditions.
In 1968, the production of a modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle called "Type 68" and its variant with a folding butt "Type 68B" was launched at the weapons enterprises of the DPRK. The North Korean AKM differed from the prototype in that its trigger was more curved. The folding metal shoulder rest had a different shape, while the "Type 68V" was lighter than any modification of the Soviet AKMS assault rifle.




KPA fighters with machine guns "Type 68"


North Korean fighter at the post with the "ceremonial" version of the "Type 68B" assault rifle


On some "type 68" assault rifles, a barrel attachment was put on, allowing you to shoot rifle grenades, similar to the Yugoslav version of the AKM - "Zastava M70".



According to rough estimates, at least 50 million Type 58, Type 68 assault rifles and their modifications were produced in the DPRK, and this is about 25 million people in the country. Currently, these samples are being actively removed from service with the KPA and transferred to the RKKG, being replaced by a copy of the AK-74, chambered for 5.45x39 mm, which has become the main small arms of the KPA soldiers, the production of which was launched in 1988 under the designation "Type 88".


For a long time, due to the fact that the leaders of the WPK (Workers' Party of Korea) were stubborn people and did not differ in the spirit of trade inherent in the Romanian or Chinese leadership, North Korean weapons were very rare in the world. However, recently, due to a catastrophic shortage of freely convertible currency, the DPRK began to quite actively sell stocks of 7.62x39 mm machine guns.
"Type 88" (in other sources there is the designation "Type 98") is a copy of the AK-74, but there are minor changes in the design: a different form of the stock is the Type 88A variant (similar to the AKS-74), similar to the GDR MPi-74., metal stores identical in design to the stamped stores of the AK assault rifle.


Some of the assault rifles have a wooden body kit, and some of the weapons have plastic fittings, like the AK-74M. That is most likely imported from Russia. In the early version, the handguard is wooden, the stock is plastic. On modern versions, both the fore-end and buttstock are plastic.


It is possible to mount an underbarrel grenade launcher "Type 88" (a copy of the GP-25 "Bonfire").


Once again, I draw your attention to an interesting phenomenon - in the DPRK army, parade units, as well as distinguished soldiers, have polished chrome weapons.


Distinguished soldier of the KPA army with a chrome Type 88 submachine gun handed to him by Kim Jong-un, when visiting a military unit


Various types of sights have been created for Type 88 assault rifles in the DPRK.


North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with a Type 88 assault rifle with a telescopic sight

However, recently the North Koreans again managed to surprise the whole world. A photo appeared in which Kim Jong-un, the leader of the DPRK, communicates with the people, and the military escorts him, armed with unusual machine guns with auger magazines made in the form of a long cylinder.

Experts believe that this weapon is nothing more than a North Korean variation on the AK theme. According to the gun blog TFB, the capacity of the new auger magazine is 75-100 rounds. There are no details regarding this North Korean modification of the Kalashnikov-type assault rifle yet. In particular, it is not known whether the security guards of the North Korean leader are equipped with auger magazines or if this is a common combined-arms modification.

In the auger magazine, the cartridges are arranged parallel to its axis in a spiral. In such a store, cartridges are fed forward by bullets along a special spiral guide (auger) with an additionally cocked spring. Screw stores are characterized by the highest relative capacity.

Soldiers of special forces units of the DPRK, when penetrating the territory of South Korea, use unlicensed Chinese copies of American automatic rifles M-16-CQ 5.56 and Colt M4-CQ-M4 carbines (5.56)


So, among the weapons of the dead North Korean special forces from a submarine carrying out a reconnaissance mission in the territorial waters of South Korea, and inadvertently stranded near the coast near the city of Gangneung on the night of September 18, 1996, a North Korean submarine, in addition to Kalashnikov assault rifles, were found Chinese assault rifles CQ 5.56.

North Korean sailors and commandos decided to break through to their homeland, but were spotted by a local taxi driver. For several weeks, tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers combed the surrounding mountains in search of them. 12 North Korean special forces and 5 crew members of the submarine were killed, and the encircled North Koreans committed suicide. By the way, none of the special forces themselves gave up. With incredible difficulty, the armada of the pursuers managed to capture only one of the northerners' team - Li Kwang-su. The South Koreans suffered incomparably heavy losses - the total number of victims came close to 140, and in a ratio of almost 1: 1 in terms of the number of killed and wounded, in addition, 4 American soldiers died. A few years later, according to information leaked to the South Korean press from local intelligence, it became known that the only North Korean special forces soldier who survived from that ill-fated boat, even being wounded in the stomach, managed to pass the heavily fortified demilitarized zone and return to his homeland, where he was received as hero. Moreover, the submarine crew itself, as they are now sure, was shot immediately after landing on the shore by their own special forces. The commandos probably thought that the sailors, due to their poor physical fitness, would not be able to go back and could surrender. The government of the Republic of Korea paid a reward of several hundred thousand dollars to the taxi driver who discovered the North Koreans.

Ending to be...

According to the websites:
http://alternathistory.org.ua
http://tsdr.ru
http://sony-es.livejournal.com
http://www.flashpoint.ru

North Korea is a closed state, information about the standard of living there is strictly classified, and the rare tourists who were able to get permission to cross the border of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are shown only those objects that the authorities consider appropriate to show. In its regime, this country is similar to the Soviet Union of the 40s of the 20th century. Today, such a regime in any country seems incredible, but labor concentration camps flourish in North Korea and mass public executions are the norm.

The year 2017 was remembered by the whole world for the threats of the leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, who announced that he was ready to launch a nuclear strike (with a North Korean-developed weapon) against South Korea. In response to this statement, US President Donald Trump promised the Americans to deal with the North Korean army once and for all, sending a nuclear submarine to the port of South Korea to confirm his words.

Although the strength of the US army is many times greater than the troops of a possible enemy, the Americans do not dare to attack an unpredictable enemy who has a nuclear weapon with an unknown potential in terms of power. Since North Korea is a closed country, it is incredibly difficult to obtain reliable information about the composition and strength of the DPRK Armed Forces.

The history of the DPRK army

The Korean People's Army appeared in 1934, although its prototype (the Anti-Japanese People's Guerrilla Army) appeared as early as 1932. The ANPA was formed from Korean partisan detachments that fought against the Japanese invaders in the territories of Manchuria.

Although these data are not confirmed by anything, historians of the republic claim that the troops of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (PRC) participated in all military operations on equal terms with the Chinese revolutionary forces and without their participation. Of course, there were many Koreans among the Chinese partisans, but it was impossible to call them an army.

In support of their version, Korean historians point out the fact that the founder of the North Korean state, Kim Il Sung, was one of the combat commanders of the KPRA. The future leader of North Korea was indeed the commander of a partisan detachment, but the detachment was officially considered Chinese.

According to the history of North Korea, the KPRA troops took part in the battles against Japan, and the victory of the Soviet Union was the work of the KPRA Armed Forces. This point of view is supported only by the inhabitants of North Korea, and military documents of the USSR say that although the Korean and Chinese partisans were systematically preparing for military operations in the territories controlled by Japan, their landing was prevented by the premature surrender of Japan.

After the Potsdam Conference, Korea was divided into two parts:

  • North Korea (which Kim Il Sung actually began to rule), which is a zone of Soviet occupation;
  • South Korea (led by Lee Syngman), which was an American zone of occupation.

Such a division did not suit either side, which is why the outbreak of a military conflict was only a matter of time. After Kim Il Sung arrived in Moscow in March 1950 for a secret conversation with Soviet leader I.V. Stalin most likely decided to attack the southern part of the Korean peninsula.

Before the start of the war, the strength of the Korean People's Army Armed Forces was approximately 100-150 thousand people. In 1953, when the war ended (although the end of the war was not officially announced), the North Korean Armed Forces had a strength of 263,000 people. At that time, it was one of the most powerful armies in Asia (not counting the Chinese), which had real combat experience.

How is the leadership in the army of the DPRK

The full leadership of the DPRK Armed Forces is carried out by the Defense Committee headed by the Supreme Commander, who is the marshal and chairman of the State Defense Committee. The General Staff performs the functions of an advisory center, and the headquarters of the air force and naval forces solve the immediate tasks that arise before the People's Armed Forces (PAF) of North Korea.

The People's Armed Forces of North Korea consists of the following types of troops:

  • the Korean People's Army, which consists of ground troops of various types;
  • Air Force;
  • Naval Forces, along with Special Operations Forces;
  • Army Ministry of Public Security;
  • Troops of the Ministry of State Security;
  • Red Guard of workers and peasants (worker-peasant);
  • Youth Red Guard;
  • People's and educational groups.

In North Korea, there is universal military service, which was popular in all countries of the former USSR. The term of service in the army of the DPRK is from 3 to 12 years (depending on the type of troops).

Although information on the number and percentage of North Korean troops is classified, the DPRK army parade, which displays the latest Korean weapons, gives a rough idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhow much military power the modern DPRK army has.

Ground Forces of North Korea

The North Korean ground forces are the largest part of the Korean People's Army. Their total number is about 950 thousand people. The term of service in the ground forces is at least 5 years (maximum 12) and this is only conscription service. In the North Korean army, a large percentage of military personnel are women. According to various sources, their number ranges from 20 to 50 percent.

The total number of tanks in the DPRK army is about 4,000 vehicles of various types. In addition to combat vehicles of various types and artillery pieces, the main pride of the DPRK army is the installation of operational-tactical and tactical missiles.

Most of the ground forces are on high alert in the demilitarized zone. In addition to a huge accumulation of military equipment and military units, this area is distinguished by a huge accumulation of various bunkers and tunnels, which most likely lead to the territory of South Korea.

Although the DPRK army is distinguished by a large amount of military equipment, 80 percent of it is outdated models of Soviet military vehicles of the 60-80s. Only in recent years, the ground forces began to be equipped with new developments of their own design.

Air Force of the DPRK

The DPRK Air Force is part of the Korean People's Army. As in the case of the ground forces, the main combat units that make up the Korean aviation fleet are old models of aircraft and helicopters produced in the 50-70s in the Soviet Union. This equipment was actively supplied to North Korea as part of military assistance. Many planes and helicopters of Chinese production of later years of production. The main pride of the air forces of the DPRK army is the 4th generation MIG-29 fighters, which were produced in the 80s of the 20th century.

Although the DPRK Air Force is one of the leaders in the world in terms of the number of combat units of air equipment (according to unofficial data - about 1600 aircraft), most of these aircraft and helicopters will not be able to conduct a full-fledged battle with modern US or Russian fighters, since their resource has long been exhausted.

All air passenger and cargo transportation in North Korea is at the expense of the Air Force. All transport aircraft are not only assigned to the military departments, but are also piloted by military pilots.

The helicopters that are at the disposal of the DPRK Air Force are represented by a variety of vehicles (about 300 units) of various types. The main pride among them are the huge MI-26 transport helicopters.

Military pilots and other personnel of the Korean Air Force are among the most respected people in the country. To pilot a military fighter, a pilot must have not only excellent health, but also be technically and morally prepared.

Navy of North Korea

The North Korean Navy is represented by two fleets:

  • the East Sea Fleet, which is intended for operations in the Sea of ​​Japan;
  • The Western Sea Fleet, intended for combat operations in the Gulf of Korea and the Yellow Sea.

In total, from 45 to 60 thousand people serve in the Navy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (although these data are not accurate). The term of service on conscription in the ranks of the Navy is from 5 to 10 years. It should be especially noted that military service in North Korea is not only an honorable duty for every citizen, for which they are preparing from childhood, but also the only way for villagers to get out of poverty.

Pyongyang is the location of the naval headquarters. Coast Guard forces are considered a significant part of the entire North Korean navy. They are capable of carrying out the following combat operations:

  • Coastal border protection;
  • Offensive and defensive operations;
  • Mining of the territory;
  • Standard raid and combat operations.

It should be noted that the main task of the DPRK navy is to support the ground forces. This support should be expressed in operations to counter the South Korean fleet.

A special place in the Navy of the DPRK is occupied by the submarine fleet. According to the latest data, the North Korean submarine fleet is represented by the following types of submarines:

  • About 20 large submarines of project 633;
  • 40 San-O submarines;
  • Submarines of the Yono class.

Despite the fact that the DPRK submarine fleet is represented by old submarines, even the ultra-small Yono-class submarines are quite capable of sending a modern warship to the bottom, which they perfectly demonstrated in 2010, when the Cheonan corvette belonging to the South Korean fleet was sunk. Although the DPRK denies any involvement in the incident, an independent investigation claims that it was the North Korean submarine fleet that was responsible for the death of the corvette.

As is the case with the air force, all sea cargo ships are under the control of the navy.

Rocket Forces of the DPRK

According to the South Korean television and radio company KBS, the DPRK's missile forces are armed with a ballistic missile complex consisting of three belts, placed taking into account their radius of action. The management of this complex is entrusted to a new department, which is called the Strategic Missile Command. This data was obtained by KBS from a secret document from the DPRK. It is not clear what kind of document this is and how it got into the hands of representatives of the TV and radio company. It is not known whether this information is correct, but it is a fact that with the coming to power of Kim Jong-un, rocket forces have become a priority.

Rocket belts are located as follows:

  • The missile belt of the first line of defense is located near the border with South Korea. It includes short-range ballistic missiles. These missiles are analogues of the Scud missiles, which were upgraded by North Korean designers;
  • The second belt of medium-range ballistic missiles is located near the capital of North Korea. Rockets of the Nodon modification are located there;
  • The third belt of long-range ballistic missiles is located in the north of the state. In addition to the Taekhodong 1.2 missiles, which have a range of 2 to 6.7 thousand kilometers, the DPRK is actively developing missile models that can cover distances of up to 10-12 thousand kilometers, that is, they are quite capable of flying to US territory. It is possible that such missiles have already been created, which cannot but worry the US government.

According to South Korean experts, the total number of ballistic missiles in service with the DPRK is about 1,600, of which about 100 are intercontinental.

In addition to these missiles, multiple rocket launchers and artillery systems were sent to the capital of South Korea, with a total number of about 5,000 units.

In 2012, during the launch of the Kwangmenseong-3 satellite into orbit, the Eunha-3 rocket was launched. While the North Korean authorities claim it was a space exploration program, the US and South Korea claim it was a test of the latest generation of ballistic missiles.

North Korean Special Forces

The special forces of North Korea are called the DPRK Special Operations Forces. In essence, these troops are an analogue of the special forces, and not the Soviet special forces, from which they were copied in the 60s, but the US special forces, which bears the same name (MTR).

Since the troops of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are in constant military readiness, this could not but leave its mark on the local SOF. Due to the fact that the North Korean special forces only recently became a single system, it should be considered only after the reorganization period of 2009-2010. Prior to this, the DPRK MTR was controlled by at least three organizations, which created enormous difficulties, since these organizations worked independently of each other. These organizations were:

  • Operations Department;
  • Office number 35;
  • Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of People's Armed Forces.

After the reorganization, the new structure became an almost complete copy of a similar organization in the United States. It includes 6 different bureaus that are responsible for specific tasks and are independent structures:

  • The first bureau is called operational. His task is to control special agents in South Korea, spy on refugees from the south of the country, and eliminate persons suspected of treason and sabotage. In addition, this bureau is engaged in the organization of sabotage, which can also be carried out at sea, since the bureau has the appropriate bases. This bureau includes: Headquarters, naval training centers, escort landing units, special schools and a preliminary and final training component. This bureau has about 7,000 employees;
  • The second bureau is intelligence. Its staff is the most numerous (about 15,000 people). In addition to the headquarters, it includes: the foreign intelligence department, the political department, the special and training departments and the maritime department. The military units of the 2 bureaus include 3 brigades of snipers, and five reconnaissance battalions;
  • The third bureau is the most secret, as it deals with foreign intelligence. Spies of North Korea (according to known information) work in 6 countries. These are Japan, America (North and South), Africa, Asia and South Korea. The number of personnel is unknown, as the bureau is highly classified;
  • The fifth bureau is called the Inter-Korean Dialogue Bureau. The bureau is called the fifth, the fourth does not exist or they want to add it in the future. The task of the fifth bureau is to psychologically indoctrinate the people of South Korea and convince them that the North Korean regime is the only correct one on the entire Korean peninsula. The staff of this bureau is small, but professionals work in it;
  • The sixth bureau is technical. Its tasks include the struggle in the field of electronic and information technologies. It consists of two battalions, one of which is responsible for electronic, and the second for information operations;
  • The seventh bureau deals with the support of the other bureaus and is called the Logistics Bureau. In addition to support (administrative and logical), it deals with interagency coordination.

Such a division of the DPRK's special operations forces helps to carry out the operations assigned to them more efficiently and thoughtfully.

The most famous military operations of North Korean special forces

In January 1968, a North Korean special forces battle group carried out a daring attack on the residence of the South Korean leader. In order not to be conspicuous, the special forces soldiers dressed up as South Korean soldiers. The fighting lasted for two weeks, after which almost the entire group of attackers was eliminated. Only two fighters managed to break into the territory of the DPRK. Nothing is known about their further fate.

In October-November of the same year, 120 KPA special forces were abandoned on the coast of South Korea. Their task was to organize guerrilla units against the South Korean regime. Having broken into brigades of 15 people, the special forces began recruiting. As a result of the military operation undertaken by the troops of South Korea, most of the North Korean special forces were destroyed, and the surviving 7 people were taken prisoner.

The total number of special operations forces of the DPRK is unknown, but according to information from various sources, it is about 90-120 thousand people.

North Korean air defense system

Although the North Korean air defense system is equipped with outdated systems and systems, it is so saturated that it is amazing.

The main air defense system is the S-25, which has long been decommissioned in all countries. It is still not clear why the DPRK so stubbornly defends these old complexes. It is possible that the military industry of the DPRK cannot provide the country with more modern air defense systems. The possibility is not ruled out that the military leadership of the country adheres to the formula "the main quantity, not quality." It is obvious that the funds spent on maintaining these old complexes in combat readiness would be more rationally used for the modernization of the complexes.

The industrial complex of the DPRK is able to maintain all its military forces without spending huge amounts of money on it. All factories in the country are made in such a way that within a short time they can easily be re-profiled for the production of military products. The latest developments in North Korea in the field of ballistic missile and nuclear technology cause great concern in South Korea and the United States.

Since information about the military forces of North Korea is extremely contradictory, it is possible to understand what the DPRK army really is only at military parades that are held in the public domain.

In Russia, October 1 is the day when the autumn draft for military service officially begins. On the same day, October 1, South Korea celebrates Armed Forces Day. People are drafted into the army from the age of 18, but the majority enter it at the age of 19-20, i.e. after graduating from high school. First of all, the armed forces are called upon to protect the country from its main enemies, that is, North Korea.

The armed forces in Korea are divided into army, navy and aviation. They serve in the army and marines for 1 year and 9 months, in the navy - 1 year and 11 months, in the air force - 2 years.

Almost all men go to serve in South Korea, since the Korean War, in which North and South Korea (as well as their allies: China and the USSR - on the side of North Korea and the United States and Great Britain - on the side of South Korea) participated, in 1953 did not at all ended - the peace treaty, which was supposed to formally end the war, has not yet been signed.

A Korean who has not served in the army can cause great suspicion among the parents of the girl he is about to marry. Also, perhaps, this will be a serious reason for reflection for those who will have to hire him.

Once it even caused a serious scandal in the presidential race. In 1997, presidential candidate Lee Hwe Chan was expected to win. However, his election campaign collapsed when it became known that two of his sons had avoided compulsory military service by deliberately losing weight before passing the medical examination.

The army does not take:

1. With an education limited to elementary school only.
2. Orphans and mixed races.
3. After imprisonment for more than 1 year and 6 months.
4. With serious illnesses, incl. myopia (above 10 diopters), short stature (below 140 cm), low weight (less than 45 kg), diabetes, etc.
5. Over the age of 45 years.
6. Disabled.
7. Olympic champions.
8. Monks.
9. Sole breadwinners who care for dependents.
10. People with mental illness.

If everything is clear with growth, lack of education and other obvious reasons for refusal, then the reluctance to take mestizos into the army looks a little strange to us. Meanwhile, descent discrimination has been in effect in Korea since 1972. Initially, such children were born to Korean women by American soldiers, and in the army they could be harassed by other military personnel. However, time passes, everything changes and the ban on military service is recognized as racist. Some people of mixed races are so eager to serve in the Korean army that they consider the refusal a hard deprivation and complain to the Commission on Human Rights. On January 25, 2010, the National Assembly repealed this provision of the law. From 2012, the first representatives of mixed races who were born after January 1, 1992 will go into the army.

Imprisonment for a term of less than one and a half years implies a frivolous offense: a scuffle or a small theft. The doors to the ranks of the Korean army are open to such people)) Those who still try to avoid military service face up to a year and a half in prison. That is, logically, it turns out that after you have served time, you can wait with peace of mind again that you will be called into the army)) not happy.

Organization of the armed forces of the DPRK

A distinctive feature of the Korean People's Army is its high degree of centralization. The leadership of the Armed Forces and military construction is carried out by the State Defense Committee of the DPRK, headed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the DPRK Kim Jong Il. The Ministry of People's Armed Forces (NAF), the Ministry of People's Security, the Ministry of State Security Protection and the reserve components of the armed forces are subordinate to the committee. The tasks of operational control and combat readiness are decided by the General Staff. With a population of 22.5 million people (2004 data), the country's army has 847 thousand people. There are about 4 million people in the reserve.

Ground troops

The number of NEs is 718 thousand people. The service life of conscripts in this type of aircraft is 5-8 years.

The main formations and formations of the SV are the army, corps, division and brigade. The army does not have a permanent staff, but is deployed on the basis of army corps. An army may include 4-5 divisions, a tank or mechanized division, a separate tank regiment, a rocket artillery brigade, and an army set of units. There are 15 corps in the SV: 8 infantry, 1 tank, 4 mechanized, 1 special-purpose corps, 1 artillery and 4 Commands (artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, for the defense of the capital and armored forces).

The army corps has 43 divisions, 23 brigades, 8 separate regiments. The army is armed with: 31 tactical missile launchers, 21 operational-tactical missile launchers, 2770 medium tanks (T-54/-55/-62, Ture-59), about 730 T-34 tanks, 560 light tanks PT- 76 and M-1985, 2440 armored combat vehicles, 12.7 thousand field artillery pieces and mortars, almost 1.1 thousand multiple launch rocket systems, about 2 thousand launchers

Air Force and Air Defense

Their number is 82 thousand people. The service life of a conscript is 3-4 years.

The Air Force and Air Defense is subdivided into 3 combat aviation commands (12 fighter aviation regiments), an air defense command (3 anti-aircraft missile brigades and 3 separate anti-aircraft missile regiments), an air defense command of the capital (5 anti-aircraft missile regiments), a general directorate of civil aviation ( transport air regiment and three training air regiments). The Air Force has: one separate fighter aviation division, three bomber regiments, seven transport aviation regiments, seven helicopter regiments, three separate anti-aircraft missile regiments, and a separate radio engineering battalion.

In total, the Air Force has 38 aviation regiments, 16 anti-aircraft missile regiments.

The aircraft fleet of the Air Force includes: in total - 1158 aircraft, including 646 combat aircraft. It consists of 80 H-5 (Il-28) bombers, 50 Su-7, Su-25 fighter-bombers, 421 J-5 (Mig-17), J-6 (Mig-21) fighters and others. The auxiliary aviation includes more than 340 An-2, An-24, Il-18, Il-62M, Tu-134 and Tu-154 transport aircraft. Most of the aircraft fleet, as we see, are outdated brands. For example, the MiG-17 has been in service since 1952, and the MiG-21 since 1955.

Naval Forces

47 thousand people serve here. The service life of a conscript is from 5 to 10 years.

The DPRK Navy includes two fleets: the Eastern (the main naval base of Yohori) and the Western (Nampho), as well as coastal missile and artillery troops. Other fleet bases: Wonsan, Najin, Hyeju, Chaha.

The fleets include brigades for the protection of the water area, brigades of landing craft, divisions of submarines, a separate division of midget submarines (sabotage and reconnaissance forces), a division of URO frigates (with guided missile weapons), divisions of missile and torpedo boats.

The Navy has missile ships (URO frigates), destroyers, small anti-submarine ships, diesel-powered torpedo submarines, small and midget submarines, tank landing ships, missile and torpedo boats, and other ships and vessels. The Navy is armed with anti-ship missiles of the "ship-to-ship" class of the "Stix" type, coastal artillery guns of 122, 130, 152-mm caliber.

In general, weapons and military equipment are 30 and 40 years old, with the exception of a small amount of weapons that have arrived in the last decade.

Nuclear missile potential

Accurate data on the actual situation with the nuclear missile potential of the DPRK is not available to the expert community either in the West or in Russia.

Since 1988, having copied three sets of Soviet single-stage ballistic missiles "Scud" received in Egypt, North Korea has put the Hwaseong-6 missiles into service with its army. Their further modernization, the mechanical increase of the rocket twice served as the basis for the production of "Nodon-1" with a firing range of 1500 km and a warhead of 1200 kg. Since the mid-1990s, Pyongyang has been developing the Tephodong-1 intercontinental missiles with an estimated firing range of 2,000-2,500 km and the Tephodong-2, with a theoretical flight range of up to 7,000 km.

Indicative estimates by many experts indicate that the DPRK is armed with Luna tactical missiles with a range of 55 km and Luna-M - 70 km, as well as Scud-V / S tactical missiles - 300 km, " Nodon-1" - 550-600 km, "Tephodon" - 1500 km and "Tephodon-2" - up to 7000 km. The DPRK allegedly possesses 50-200 Nodon-class missiles1 and 500-600 Scud-class missiles2.

Approximately the same ambiguity with the state of the North Korean nuclear program. Presumably from the beginning of the 90s, Kim Jong Il began to develop nuclear weapons. Back in February 1990, the chairman of the KGB of the USSR reported to the government of the USSR about the presence of nuclear weapons in the North Koreans. It is possible that 8,000 rods received from Pakistan in exchange for sold missiles were recycled. From the plutonium obtained as a result of processing, 5 - 10 nuclear charges can be produced.

In the field of nuclear energy, by the mid-1990s, a 5 MW graphite reactor was built in the Yongbyon region to enrich nuclear fuel, where about 6 kg of weapons-grade plutonium was produced annually. Presumably, according to expert estimates, two more reactors with a capacity of 50 and 200 MW have been built.

In 2007, the DPRK had a total plutonium stockpile of 46-64 kg, of which about 28-50 kg was separated, and they are suitable for the production of a nuclear explosive device. To date, after testing a nuclear warhead with a capacity of 5-10 kilotons, the country presumably has at least 6 nuclear warheads3.

military doctrine

The basis of military doctrine is active defense. More than 60% of the total number of formations and units of the Ground Forces, more than 40% of the units and formations of the Air Force and Air Defense are deployed south of the Pyongyang-Wonsan line. Air Force aircraft are based mainly on 30 of the 70 airfields around Pyongyang. About 60% of the ship's composition is located at forward bases on the east and west coasts. In the southern provinces, along the military demarcation line along the 38th parallel, 250 km long, separating the DPRK and the Republic of Korea, four army corps have been equipped with defenses. In the strip of each corps, 5-6 tunnels were dug several kilometers long to connect the rear areas of the corps with the zone of the demarcation line.

When fulfilling the task of turning the country's territory into an "impregnable fortress", the southern regions of the country should practically form a continuous zone of barriers. It is based on numerous underground shelters, fortified areas, defense areas for tank towers, and engineering barriers.

The antiamphibious defense of the east coast of the DPRK is carried out by three army corps in cooperation with the coastal missile and artillery units of the Eastern Fleet and the combat aviation command of the Air Force and Air Defense, part of the forces of the border troops corps; in the operational depth there are two mechanized corps.

The western coast in antiamphibious defense is covered by four army corps in cooperation with the coastal missile and artillery units of the Western Fleet and two combat aviation commands, as well as part of the forces of the border troops corps; in the operational depth there is a tank corps. The Pyongyang zone is defended by the capital defense command. Despite the fact that the Chinese leadership deployed five divisions with a total strength of about 150,000 people along the border with North Korea in 2003 in order to demonstrate dissatisfaction with the neighbor’s position on the nuclear issue,4 the DPRK keeps only parts of the corps of border troops numbering up to 30,000 people in the north .

Provision of weapons and military equipment

Since the mid-1990s, Pyongyang has almost completely satisfied the needs of its army in artillery and small arms, individual models of weapons and military equipment. Korean enterprises produce self-propelled artillery mounts of the M-1975/-1977/-1978/-1981/-1985/-1989/-1991 type. On the basis of Soviet models, the production of the Chonmakho tank and the M-1973 armored personnel carrier was launched. MiG-29 fighters, spare parts for MiG-21/-23/-29, Su-25 aircraft are produced under the Soviet license. According to expert data, during the year, rocket manufacturing enterprises can produce up to 100 Scud V / S missiles, which allows them to be exported to other countries. Most of the ship composition of the Navy are built in North Korean shipyards.

At the same time, the DPRK needs to import complex modern weapons systems, missile and aviation equipment. Most of the conventional weapons are supplied from the CIS countries. According to SIPRI, the DPRK is able to produce most conventional weapons, despite the difficult economic situation.

The military-political analysis of the state of the combat power of North Korea is significantly hampered by the fact that this country is one of the most closed in the world. Therefore, some of the data is of an expert nature, but according to the available information, it can be confidently judged that in a practically impoverished country a powerful army equipped with nuclear weapons has been created, which no one can underestimate.

1 SIPRI Yearbook 2007. Armaments, disarmament and international security. IMEMO RAN. P.594

2 Panin A., Altov V. North Korea. The era of Kim Jong Il is coming to an end. M., Olma-Press, 2004. S. 195.

3 SIPRI Yearbook 2007. P.593

Despite the very weak economy and the almost complete international isolation of the DPRK, its Armed Forces (KPA - Korean People's Army) remain one of the strongest in the world. The KPA is being built under the slogans Juche (self-reliance) and Songun (everything for the army).

During the Cold War, North Korea received military aid from the USSR and China. By now it has completely stopped. Moscow is not satisfied with the low solvency of Pyongyang, and Beijing is extremely dissatisfied with its policy. The only partner of the DPRK in the military field is Iran, with which there is a constant exchange of technologies. At the same time, Pyongyang continues its nuclear missile program and maintains 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, ships, boats and submarines - both on the basis of foreign projects and their own design. Only airplanes and helicopters have not been created in the DPRK, although it is possible to assemble them from foreign components, if any.

Due to the extreme secrecy of North Korea, information about its armed forces, especially about the amount of equipment, is estimated.

Rocket troops include a significant number of ballistic missiles of various ranges. There are up to 16 Hwasong-7 missile battalions, also known as Rodon-1 (3 launchers in each division, from 200 to 300 missiles in total, flight range up to 1300 km), 1 OTR R-17 regiment (28 launchers , flight range - 300 km), as well as created on the basis of R-17 OTR "Hwasong-5" (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 TR KN-02, created on the basis of the Russian TR "Tochka" (4 launchers each, at least 100 missiles in total, range - 70 km), 6 divisions of old TR " Luna and Luna-M (4 launchers each, 70 km). IRBMs or even ICBMs of the Taephodon series are being developed.

KPA Special Operations Forces are at least the fourth largest in the world (after the USA, China, Russia), and perhaps even the second after the American ones - up to 90 thousand people. The North Korean MTRs are led by the Light Infantry Control Bureau and the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. CCOs include three components.

Ground Forces Special Forces: 9 light infantry brigades, 3 sniper brigades (17th, 60th, 61st), 17 reconnaissance and 8 "regular" battalions. Airborne: 3 "regular" (38th, 48th, 58th) and 4 sniper (11th, 16th, 17th, 21st) airborne brigades, parachute battalion. Marine Special Forces: 2 naval sniper brigades (1 each in the Western and Eastern fleets).

Ground troops, numbering almost a million people, are divided into four strategic echelons. First echelon located directly on the border with South Korea and consists of their infantry and artillery formations. If the DPRK starts a war, its task 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 this echelon is to prevent enemy troops from advancing deep 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: 3rd, 6th, 8th infantry divisions, 32nd light infantry brigade, two more light infantry brigades, as well as tank brigades, self-propelled guns, MLRS, ferry landing. 4th: 26th, 28th, 33rd, 41st infantry divisions, four brigades - tank, two light infantry, crossing and landing. 5th: 5th, 12th, 25th, 45th infantry divisions, 103rd tank brigade, 75th and 80th light infantry brigades, self-propelled guns brigade, MLRS brigade, airborne brigade. The 620th Artillery Corps includes seven self-propelled gun brigades and six MLRS brigades.

Second echelon located directly behind the first and consists of the most powerful tank and mechanized formations of the KPA ground forces. If the DPRK starts a war, its task is to develop an offensive into the depths of the South Korean defense (including the capture of Seoul) after it is broken through by the forces of the first echelon. If South Korea and the United States start a war, the second echelon of the KPA must eliminate possible enemy breakthroughs through the location of the first.

The second echelon includes a tank and two mechanized corps. 806th MK: 4th, 7th, 47th and two more mechanized brigades, light infantry brigade, self-propelled guns brigade. 815th MK: 26th and four more mechanized brigades, light infantry brigade, self-propelled guns brigade. 820th TC: 105th armored division, three armored brigades, 15th mechanized brigade, self-propelled guns brigade, MLRS brigade.

third echelon provides the defense of Pyongyang, is a reserve and training base for the first two echelons. Includes five infantry and one artillery corps. 3rd PC: five infantry divisions (including two reserve training divisions), tank and artillery brigades. 6th PC: three infantry divisions (including two reserve training divisions), an artillery brigade. 7th pc: 10th and 20th infantry divisions, four reserve training divisions, 87th light infantry brigade, artillery brigade. 12th PC: motorized infantry and infantry divisions, tank and artillery brigades. 91st PC of the defense of the capital: four motorized infantry brigades, a brigade of MLRS. Kandong Artillery Corps - six artillery and MLRS brigades each.

fourth tier located along the border of the DPRK with the PRC and the Russian Federation. It is, like the third, training and reserve, as well as the "echelon of last resort." Includes two mechanized and four infantry corps. The 108th and 425th MKs have the same structure - five mechanized brigades each, a light infantry brigade, and a self-propelled gun brigade. The 10th and 11th PCs each include one infantry and one training reserve division, and a MLRS brigade. 8th PC: three infantry divisions (including one reserve training division), tank and artillery brigades.

9th pc: 24th and 42nd infantry divisions, reserve training infantry division, MLRS brigade. It is this corps that has a border with the Russian Federation in its area of ​​​​responsibility. The ground forces also have 4 border and 22 engineering brigades.

Tank Park KPA has 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 of Tour 59 (175). There are 500 Soviet T-62s. On their basis, the DPRK created the Chonma family of tanks (at least 470 units).

The most modern North Korean tank is Songun-915, known in the West and in Russia under the name Pokpun-ho. It is also based on the T-62, but using the technologies of the more modern T-72 and T-80. It carries a 125-mm cannon, a 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun, twin launchers of the Balso-3 ATGM (a copy of the Soviet Kornet ATGM) and the Hwa Song Chon MANPADS (a copy of the Needle-1). Not a single tank in the world has such a set of weapons. To date, 200-400 Songun-915 units have been produced. Light tanks: 100 Soviet PT-76s, 50 Chinese Tour 62s, at least 100 own PT-85 "Shinhen" (amphibious tank with 85mm gun).

There are 222 Soviet BMP-1s, as well as more than 1,500 armored personnel carriers. The oldest ones are BTR-40 and BTR-152 (about 600 in total). Slightly newer are the Soviet BTR-60 (250 units), BTR-50 (50) and our own Type-73, created on the basis of the Chinese Tour 531 and better known as the VTT-323 (at least 500). The most modern are 32 Russian armored personnel carriers-80A and up to 100 armored personnel carriers "Type-69" created on their basis in the DPRK.

KPA artillery includes numerous towed guns of Soviet, Chinese and domestic production. These are 500 A-19 and M-30, 300 D-74, 188 D-30, 50 Tour 59-1, 160 M-46 and up to 1000 similar guns of our own production, 200 D-20 and 100 ML-20. A significant part of these guns was converted into self-propelled guns by installation on the ATS-59 tracked conveyor. There are at least 60 self-propelled guns M-1973 and M-1983 "Juche-po" with a firing range of up to 60 kilometers. Thus, the total number of self-propelled guns and towed guns exceeds 3000. Mortars (up to 7500) are mainly of our own production: 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 5000. These are at least 3774 Chinese towed Tour 63, produced under license in the DPRK, 500 Soviet BM-21, own BM-11, M-1973, M-1990, 100 Chinese Tour 63, 50 Soviet towed RPU-14 and 100 BM-14s, 200 own M-1968s and Soviet BMD-20s (200mm), 200 to 500 Soviet BM-24s, own M-1984s and M-1990s (240mm).

Anti-tank weapons: ATGM "Malyutka", "Konkurs", up to 1100 ATGM "Fagot", as well as at least a thousand self-propelled anti-tank systems M-1974 (100 mm).

In terms of the number of almost all classes of equipment, the KPA ground forces occupy at least the fourth place in the world. Such a huge number largely compensates for its archaism. This is especially true for artillery, in terms of barrels 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 frontline zone, it is physically impossible to suppress such a number of guns.

DPRK Air Force organizationally consist of 6 air divisions and 3 anti-aircraft missile brigades. 1st hell: 24th bomber ap (equipped with old Chinese H-5 bombers, created on the basis of Il-28), 35th fighter ap (Chinese J-6 fighters, MiG-19 copies), 55th assault ap (the most modern strike aircraft - Su-25 attack aircraft), the 57th fighter ap (the most modern - MiG-29), the 60th fighter ap (MiG-23ML / UB and MiG-21PFM fighters), two transport ap (An- 2 and their Chinese counterparts Y-5), helicopter regiment. 2nd hell: bomber ap (N-5), 46th IAP (J-6, MiG-21), 56th IAP (MiG-21PFM / bis), 58th IAP (MiG-23ML / UB) , 72nd IAP (MiG-21, J-7), as well as three more IAPs, a transport AP (An-2 / Y-5), a helicopter regiment. 3rd hell: 4th and 11th IAP (armed with the oldest J-5 fighter, a Chinese copy of the MiG-17), 86th IAP (J-6, MiG-21), 303rd IAP (J-6) , helicopter regiment. The 5th transport hell includes five regiments.

The 6th transport hell includes the Air Koryo airline, which includes passenger aircraft carrying top DPRK and KPA officials, as well as seven helicopter regiments, including the only regiment of Mi-24 attack helicopters and the 64th regiment of American helicopters MD- 500, purchased in the 80s through intermediaries. The 8th training hell includes an aviation academy and four regiments of training aircraft. Anti-aircraft missile brigades: 3, 66, 116th.

Attack aircraft of the KPA Air Force includes up to 86 extremely obsolete Chinese H-5 bombers, from 18 to 27 Su-7 attack aircraft, 34-35 relatively new Su-25s (including 4 UBCs) and up to 40 Chinese Q-5 attack aircraft of intermediate age. Fighters: up to 107 extremely obsolete Chinese J-5s and Soviet MiG-17s, up to 109 J-6s and MiG-19s, up to 232 MiG-21s and J-7s, up to 56 MiG-23s, 16–35 MiG-29s (in including up to 6 combat training MiG-29UB). There are 2 electronic warfare aircraft based on An-24 (one more, possibly in storage).

North Korea does not have transport aviation in the classical sense. Air Koryo has 3 Il-76s, 4 Il-62s, up to 5 An-24s, up to 14 Il-14s, 2-3 Il-18s, 2 Tu-134s, 3 Tu-154s (1 more in storage). Two Tu-204s are designed to carry management and some critical cargo. Up to 300 An-2s and Y-5s are used by MTRs for the transfer of special forces. Training aircraft: up to 35 MiG-15bis, MiG-15UTI and JJ-2, up to 49 CJ-6, up to 97 CJ-5 and Yak-18, up to 135 JJ-5 (J-5 training version) and MiG-17U.

Combat helicopters: 20–47 Mi-24D. Multipurpose 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 Mi-4) and Mi-4 (1 more in storage), 5–8 amphibians Mi-14, up to 87 MD-500.

All ground 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 division of the S-75 air defense system (246 launchers), 32 divisions of the S-125 air defense system (128 launchers), at least a division of the KN-06 air defense system (from 8 PU). The KN-06 is a local version of the Soviet S-300PT/PS air defense system or the Chinese HQ-9. Armed with up to 6,000 MANPADS (4,500 Strela-2 and their Chinese copies HN-5, 1,500 Igla-1 and their local counterparts NT-16РGJ), several thousand ZSU and anti-aircraft guns, including up to 250 ZSU-57 -2, 148 ZSU-23-4, 1500 ZU-23, 1000 61-K, 400 KS-12, 524 KS-19.

Almost all the equipment of the KPA Air Force and Air Defense is extremely outdated, even the Su-25, MiG-29 and KN-06 can only be considered relatively new. To a certain extent, this is offset by numbers, but in this case this factor is much less important than for ground forces. However, the actions of aviation of any enemy of the DPRK at low altitudes will be extremely hampered by the mountainous terrain and the huge number of MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns in the North Korean air defense. Old aircraft may well be used as kamikaze, including those with nuclear weapons.

Naval Forces are divided into the Western Fleet (includes 5 naval regions, 6 squadrons) and the Eastern Fleet (7 VMR, 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 ships are extremely primitive. In particular, they do not have air defense systems at all. However, for operations in coastal waters, the DPRK Navy has a very significant potential. Their strongest side is a large number of small submarines capable of both landing special forces groups on the enemy coast and acting against enemy ships in shallow water. In regular border skirmishes between North Korean and South Korean combat boats, as a rule, the advantage is on the side of the former.

The basis of the submarine fleet is 22 old submarines of project 633/033 (Soviet, Chinese and own construction). It is possible that up to 4 very old Soviet submarines of project 613 have survived. There are 30–40 small Sang-O submarines (built according to their own design), 23 ultra-small Yugo submarines of the Yugoslav design (another 10 in reserve) and up to 10 Yono (Iranian "Ghadir").

It is armed with at least 2 patrol ships (frigates) of the Najin type, 1 Soho catamaran (possibly decommissioned), up to 30 corvettes (including 2–3 of the newest Nampo type). Missile boats: up to 8 old Soviet Project 205, 4 of their Chinese counterparts of Project 021, up to 10 of their local counterparts of the Soju type, up to 6 very old Soviet Project 183R, up to 6 of their local counterparts of the Sohung type, up to 6 of their latest own types "Nongo" (with local analogues of the Russian anti-ship missiles X-35 "Uranus").

The DPRK Navy is practically the only fleet in the world that continues to massively operate torpedo boats (mostly of its own projects). This is up to 100 "Sing Hun" hydrofoils, 42 type "Kuson", up to 3 Soviet project 206M, up to 13 Soviet project 183. Patrol boats: 54 type "Chongjin", 18-33 type "Sinpo", 59 type " Chakho, 6 of the Cheongzhu type, 13-23 of the Chinese project 062 Shanghai-2, 19 of the Soviet project 201M. 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 TDCs, 18 Hunnam-type TDCs, 15 Hanchon-type TDCs, 51 Chongjin-class landing craft, 96 Nampo-type airborne landing craft, and 140 Konban-type hovercraft.

Coastal defense covers the entire coast of the DPRK. It consists of 6 brigades (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21st). Includes a significant number of Chinese HY-1 and HY-2 SCRCs, Soviet Sopka SCRCs, SM-4-1, M-1992, M-46, ML-20 guns.

In general, the noticeable technical backwardness of the KPA is largely offset by the huge amount of weapons, equipment and personnel, the good level of combat training and the fanaticism of the military. In addition, the KPA is very well adapted to operations in mountainous terrain. This makes it a dangerous opponent even for the three strongest armies in the world (American, Chinese, Russian) and completely invincible for everyone else.

/Alexander Khramchikhin, Deputy Director of the Institute for Political and Military Analysis, vpk-news.ru/