World Military and Police Forces: Korea, North

Korea, North

North Korea

Capital: Pyongyang

Historical

North Korea and South Korea divided along the 38^th parallel

25 June 1950- Communist forces from North Korea invade South Korea.

01 July 1950- U.S. forces under a U.N. banner begin to arrive and push back the Communists who had already captured Seoul and much of the South.

15 September 1950- After landing at Inchon, U.S. led forces re-capture Seoul and push the Communists back into the north.

19 October 1950- U.S. and South Korean forces enter Pyongyang

After U.S. led forces chase the communist North Korean forces to the Yalu River, the border between China and North Korea, China sends 180,000 troops across the border. On 27^th of November 1950, the Chinese launch an attack against the U.S led forces, eventually pushing them back past the 38^th parallel. The Chinese led forces move on to capture Seoul in South Korea, but the Chinese led offensive began to run out of momentum.

The U.N. forces recapture Seoul and push the Chines back past the 38^th parallel.

Peace talks held in 1953 ended in only a ceasefire agreement.

Communist forces used mostly Soviet and World War 2 era Japanese weapons during the fighting.

“MiG Alley” MiG-15 versus U.S. F-86 Sabres.

Workers Party of Korea

Military first policy (Songun)

Self reliance policy (Juche)

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

38^th Parallel

A few tunnels large enough for tanks to travel through have been discovered under South Korean territory. The tunnels run zig zag, have seals and air purification units and even rest areas. The tunnels would allow North Korean forces to move past the DMZ and behind enemy forces.

Some defense related plants are built underground in maintenance areas.

Propaganda City

Also called Kijong Dong or “Peace Village” by the North Koreans. Load speakers that blast North Korean propaganda. Huge flag pole.

Arirang Mass Games

The Great Leader, Kim Il Sung, is considered the father of the nation. His son, Kim Jung Il, succeeded him as leader of North Korea.

In 2010, the Korean Workers Party elects the son of Kim Jung Il, Kim Jong Un, as his successor.

Space Program
Korea Committee of Space Technology

12 DEC 13- A North Korean made Unha-3 space rocket was successfully launched and placed a satellite into orbit.

North Korea has about 1,200,000 active duty personnel

Ballistic Missiles

Operated by the Artillery Guidance Bureau.

Nodong-1 (Rodong-1)

Taepodong-1

Taepodong-2

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) Unknown designation.

Hwasong 15 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)

Hwasong 14 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)

Hwasong-12 ballistic missile

Hwasong-8 hypersonic missile

Hwasong-6 (Improved SS-1 Scud C)

Hwasong-5 (Improved SS-1 Scud B)

FROG-7

Short range ballistic missile. Unknown designation

KN02 short range ballistic missile. SS-21 Scarab variant

BM25 Musudan (Nodong-B or Rodong-B)

KN-08 (Nodong-C or Hwasong 13)

Pukguksong-2 intermediate range ballistic missiles

KN-24 short range ballistic missiles

Certain missiles launched using railway system.

Hwasong-31 tactical nuclear warheads

Air Force

Korean Peoples Air Force

Capable of operating from highways.

May use the older aircraft in the inventory, such as the MiG-17, in a first strike or in a ground attack and close air support role.

MiG-29 fighter aircraft

MiG-23 fighter aircraft

MiG-17 fighter aircraft

SU-25 attack aircraft

MiG-21 fighter aircraft

F-7 fighter aircraft (Chinese made copy of the MiG-21)

F-6 fighter aircraft (Chinese made copy of the MiG-19)

F-5 fighter aircraft (Chinese made copy of the MiG-17)

SU-7 fighter aircraft?
SU-17 fighter aircraft?
SU-22 fighter aircraft?

Q-5 attack aircraft?

Yak-18 trainer aircraft

CJ-5 trainer aircraft. Chinese made trainer based upon the Yak-18.

Il-28 medium bombers

H-5 medium bombers (Chinese copy of the Il-28)

An-24 transport aircraft

An-2 utility aircraft

Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Saetbyol-9 (Morning Star-9) UAV similar in appearance to US MQ-9 Reaper

Saetbyol-4 (Morning Star-4) UAV similar in appearance to US RQ-4 Global Hawk

Drones based upon the U.S. MQM-107 Streaker target drones? The initial MQM-107 drones were believed to have been purchased from Syria. These U.S. drones have been reverse engineered and modified to be used as unmanned combat aerial vehicles?

Decoy aircraft

Mi-24 attack helicopters
Mi-26 transport helicopters

Mi-8 transport helicopters

Mi-2 transport helicopters

Hughes MD 500D helicopters. U.S. made helicopters purchased from Germany. South Korea also uses the MD 500 helicopter. May be painted in South Korean colors and used to infiltrate.

Air Defense

Dense air defense network with overlapping coverage and redundancy.

Many surface-to-air missiles are stored underground or in hardened shelters.

Barrage balloons

Pon'gae-5 (KN06) surface-to-air missiles. Similar in appearance to S-300

SA-1 surface-to-air missiles

SA-2 (S-75) surface-to-air missiles

SA-3 (S-125) surface-to-air missiles

SA-4 (2K11 Krug) surface-to-air missiles

SA-5 (S-200) surface-to-air missiles

SA-6 surface-to-air missiles

SA-17 surface-to-air missiles

Air defense system. Unknown designation. Looks similar to the Russian Tor air defense system.

SA-13 (9K35 Strela 10) surface-to-air missiles

Hwa Sung surface-to-air missiles (North Korean made copy of the SA-7)?

SA-7 shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles

SA-14 shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles

SA-16 shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles

KS-30 towed 130mm anti-aircraft guns

KS-19 towed 100mm anti-aircraft guns

KS-12 towed 85mm anti-aircraft guns

M-1985 self propelled 57mm anti-aircraft guns

ZSU-57-2 self propelled 57mm anti-aircraft guns

S-60 towed 57mm anti-aircraft guns

M-1992 self propelled 37mm anti-aircraft guns

M-1939 towed 37mm anti-aircraft guns?

M-1992 towed 30mm anti-aircraft guns?

M1989 towed 30mm anti-aircraft guns?

M-1992 towed 23mm anti-aircraft guns

M-1990 towed 30mm multi-barrel anti-aircraft guns

14.5mm towed anti-aircraft rotary cannon

ZSU-23-4 self propelled 23mm anti-aircraft guns

ZSU-23 towed 23mm anti-aircraft guns

ZPU-4 towed 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns

ZPU-4 anti-aircraft guns on ZiL-130 trucks

M-1984 self propelled 14,5mm anti-aircraft guns?

Navy

Korean Peoples Navy

East and West coast fleets

Frigates

Submarines

Midget submarines

Submersibles

Missile Boats

Torpedo Boats

Patrol Boats

Mine Warfare vessels

Landing Craft

Hovercraft

CHAHO fire support vessels with multiple rocket launchers. Made to provide fire support to ground troops.

NAMPO landing craft

SANG-O submersibles

Intelligence gathering vessel disguised as a fishing boat.

Loitering torpedo or Unmanned Underwater Vehicle believed to have nuclear capability

Pukguksong-1 (KN11) submarine-launched ballistic missile

Pukguksong-4A submarine launched ballistic missile

Variant or upgrade of the Kumsong-3 (KN-19) coastal defense system

Kumsong-3 (KN-19) coastal defense system. Fires anti-ship cruise missiles.

SS-N-2 Styx (P-15 Termit) anti-ship missiles

CSS-N-1 anti-ship missiles
KN01 anti-ship missiles

SS-N-3B Sepal (P-35)
C-802 anti-ship missiles
C-602 anti-ship missiles
Kh-35 (KN09) anti-ship missiles

Sea Mines

Coastal Defense

SSC-2B anti-ship missiles

CSS-C-2 anti-ship missiles

CSS-C-3 anti-ship missiles
HY-2 anti-ship missiles

M-1992 self-propelled 130mm howitzers
M-1937 (ML-20) towed 152mm gun/howitzer

M-1931 towed 122mm guns

SM-4-1 towed 130mm coastal defense guns

Special Forces

Army

Korean Peoples Army

Pre-positioned roadblocks consisting of large concrete blocks ready to be dropped into place.

Anti-tank ditches

North Korean Artillery

North Korea has a large amount of artillery. Any major attack on enemy forces in South Korea would most likely be proceeded by a massive artillery bombardment.

Many large guns are hidden in caves or hardened artillery shelters. Some of these guns are mounted on rails.

Multiple Rocket Launchers

Large caliber multiple rocket launcher. Four tubes. Unknown designation.

Multiple rocket launcher. Five tubes. Unknown caliber. Unknown designation.

Multiple rocket launcher. Six tubes. Unknown caliber. Unknown designation.

M-1991 240mm multiple rocket launchers

M-1989 240mm multiple rocket launchers

M-1985 240mm multiple rocket launchers

BM-24 240mm multiple rocket launchers

BMD-20 200mm multiple rocket launchers

BM-14 140mm multiple rocket launchers

RPU-14 140mm multiple rocket launchers

Type 63 130mm multiple rocket launchers

BM-21 122mm multiple rocket launchers

M-1993 122mm multiple rocket launchers

M-1992 122mm multiple rocket launchers

M-1985 122mm multiple rocket launchers

M-1977 122mm multiple rocket launchers

BM-11 122mm multiple rocket launchers

122mm multiple rocket launcher on VTT-323 armored vehicles

122mm multiple rocket launchers on tractors

107mm multiple rocket launchers on trucks

107mm on M-1992 armored vehicles

107mm on VTT-323 armored vehicle

Self Propelled Artillery

M-1989 Koksan 170mm

M-1978 Koksan 170mm self propelled howitzers

M-1977 152mm self propelled howitzers

M-1974 152mm self propelled howitzers

M-1992 130mm self propelled howitzers

M-1991 130mm self propelled howitzers

M-1981 130mm self propelled howitzers

M-1975 130mm self propelled howitzers

M-1991 122mm self propelled howitzers

M-1988 122mm self propelled howitzers
M-1985 122mm self propelled howitzers

M-1981 122mm self propelled howitzers

M-1977 122mm self propelled howitzers

M-1992 120mm self propelled howitzers
SU-100 self propelled guns

Towed Artillery

S-23 towed 180mm

M-1985 152mm

M-1943 152mm

M-1938 152mm

M-1937 (ML-20) 152mm

D-20 152mm

Type 59 (M-46) 130mm

D-74 122mm

D-30 122mm

Type 54 (M-30) 122mm

M-1937 122mm

M-1931 122mm

Anti-Tank Guns

M-44 towed 100mm anti-tank guns

D-44 towed 85mm anti-tank guns

M-1942 (ZiS-3) towed 76.2mm anti-tank guns

Tanks and Armored Vehicles

New tanks of unknown designation

P'ok pung-Ho tanks- North Korean reverse engineered copy of the T-72.

Songun-ho tanks

Ch' onma-Ho (Thousand Horses Chariot) tanks- North Korean made tanks based on the T-62.

Chonma Ho II
Chonma Ho III

T-72 tanks

T-62 tanks

T-55 tanks

Chinese made Type 62 tanks

Chinese made Type 59 tanks

T-34 tanks

Chinese made Type 63 amphibious assault tank

PT-76 light amphibious tanks

PT-85 (M1981)- North Korean made light amphibious tanks with a VTT-323 chassis.

BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles

Chinese made YW 531 (Type 63) armored personnel carriers

VTT-323 (M1973)- North Korean made armored personnel carriers with 14.5mm machine guns. May also have Susong Po (AT-3 Sagger) anti-tank missiles and SA-7 or SA-16 surface-to-air missiles.

M2010 armored personnel carrier. Looks similar to BTR-80 with two 14.5mm machine guns. 8x8 wheeled and 6x6 wheeled variants.

M2009 Chunma D

Wheeled armored vehicles. Unknown designation.

BTR-152 armored personnel carriers

BTR-40 armored personnel carriers

BTR-50P armored personnel carriers

BTR-60PB armored personnel carriers
BTR-80A armored personnel carriers

M-1992 armored personnel carriers

BA-64 armored cars

Four wheeled light armored vehicles. Unknown designation

UAZ-469 utility vehicles

Ural 4320 trucks
ZiL-157 trucks
ZiL-130 trucks

Sungri-61 trucks. North Korean made.
Sungri-58 trucks. North Korean made.
Sungri-60 trucks. North Korean made.
ATS-59 artillery tractors?

M1938 120mm mortars

M37 82mm mortars

New anti-tank guided missile carrier on modified 6x6 wheeled M2010.

New anti-tank guided missile carrier on modified 8x8 wheeled M2010

AT-2 anti-tank guided missiles

AT-3 Sagger (9M14 Malyutka) anti-tank guided missiles
Susong Po anti-tank guided missiles. North Korean made copy of the AT-3.

AT-4 Spigot (9K111 Fagot) anti-tank guided missiles
Bulsae-2 anti-tank guided missiles. North Korean copy of the 9K111
Bulsae-3 anti-tank guided missiles.

AT-5 (9M113 Konkurs) anti-tank guided missiles
AT-6 anti-tank guided missiles
AT-7 anti-tank guided missiles

RPG-16 anti-tank rocket launcher

RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launcher
Type 69 anti-tank rocket launcher

RPG-2 anti-tank rocket launcher
RPO incendiary rocket launcher

SPG-9 recoilless gun

SPG-82 recoilless gun

B-11 recoilless gun

B-10 recoilless gun

Tandem PG-7VR rockets for the RPG-7 launcher?

AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers

Rifle grenades

Dshk heavy machine guns
KPV machine guns

PKM machine guns

Type 67 machine gun (North Korean made copy of the PK machine gun)
RPK machine guns

RPD light machine guns
Type 73 light machine guns (North Korean made machine gun that looks similar to the Czech Vz 52)
Degtyarev machine guns

Dragunov sniper rifles

M-76 sniper rifles

AK-47 assault rifles

AKM assault rifles
Type 88 assault rifles (North Korean made copy of the 5.45mm AK-74)

Type 58 assault rifles (North Korean made copy of the AK-47)

Type 68 assault rifles (North Korean made copy of the AKM)

Type 56 assault rifles (Chinese made copy of the AK-47)

SKS carbines
KS-23 shotguns

Type 49 sub-machine guns (North Korean made copy of the PPsh-41)
PPS sub-machine guns
Type 54 sub-machine guns. Chinese copy of the PPS.
Type 36 sub-machine guns. Chinese copy of the M3 "grease gun"
Type 70 pistols.

Type 68 pistols (North Korean made pistols in 7.62x25 TT caliber. Copy of the TT-33)
Type 66 pistols (North Korean made copy of the Makarov PM)

North Korean Airborne

North Korean Special Forces

North Korea has the largest amount of special forces or specialized troops in the world. Around 100,000 special forces. These forces are trained to conduct raids in the enemy rear and perform reconnaissance and intelligence gathering operations. These special forces will attempt to create a second front in the enemy rear. Consists of mostly light infantry, reconnaissance, and sniper units.

Once behind enemy lines, North Korean special forces locate and destroy strategic level enemy artillery, airfields, storage facilities, air defense locations, command and control assets in the enemy rear area. May also conduct kidnappings and assassinations of key enemy personnel. North Korean special forces will seek to destroy enemy reserve forces, ports, rail lines, and logistical points as well.

North Korean special forces may attempt to infiltrate during or immediately after a massive North Korean artillery barrage on South Korean targets. This weakens enemy forces and creates confusion.

North Korean special forces may choose to infiltrate during periods of low visibility or darkness, possibly dressed as South Korean military personnel or as civilians. May try to infiltrate using mountains, forests, and tall grass as cover.

May use An-2 transport aircraft to drop special forces behind enemy lines or use MD 500 helicopters painted with South Korean markings to infiltrate by air.

North Korea may use midget submarines, speed boats, rubber rafts, or merchant ships to infiltrate special forces by sea.