Juche Force
Despite the very weak economy and the almost complete international isolation of the DPRK, its armed forces (KPA - Korean Peoples Army) remain among the strongest in the world. The KPA is built under the slogan “Juche” (“self-reliance”) and “Songun” (“everything for the army”).
During the Cold War, North Korea received military assistance from the USSR and China. By now, it has completely stopped. Pyongyang is not satisfied with Moscow’s low solvency, and Beijing is extremely dissatisfied with its policy. The DPRK's only military partner is Iran, with which there is a constant exchange of technology. At the same time, Pyongyang continues its nuclear missile program and contains huge conventional forces. The country has a developed defense industry capable of producing almost all classes of military equipment: missiles, Tanks, Armored personnel carriers, artillery and MLRS, ships, boats and submarines - both on the basis of foreign projects, as well as their own development. Only airplanes and helicopters were not created in the DPRK, although they can be assembled from foreign components, if any.
Due to the extreme closeness of North Korea, information about its Armed Forces, especially about the number of vehicles, is estimated.
Missile forces include a significant number of ballistic missiles of various ranges. There are up to 16 battalions of Hwasong-7 missiles, they are also Nodon-1 (3 PU in each division, total from 200 to 300 missiles, flight range up to 1300 km), 1 regiment OTR P-17 (28 PU , flight range - 300 km), as well as based on the P-17 OTR "Hwasong-5" (to 180 PU, 300 – 400 missiles, range - 330 km) and "Hwasong-6" (to 100 PU, 300 –– 400 missiles, range - 500 km), to 8 divisions of the KN-02 TR created on the basis of the Russian Toch TR (in 4 PU in each, not less than 100 missiles, 70 km in the distance), in 6 divisions of the old TR " Luna ”and“ Luna-M ”(according to 4 PU, 70 km). MRBRs or even Tephodon series ICBMs are being developed.
The special operations forces of the KPA are at least the fourth largest in the world (after the United States, China, the Russian Federation), and perhaps even the second after the American — up to 90 thousand people. The North Korean MTR is led by the Light Infantry Control Bureau and the General Staff Intelligence Directorate. The CCO includes three components.
Special Forces of the Ground Forces: 9 light infantry brigades, 3 sniper brigades (17th, 60th, 61st), 17 reconnaissance battalions and 8 "regular" battalions. Airborne Forces: 3 "regular" (38, 48, 58th) and 4 sniper (11, 16, 17, 21st) airborne brigades, a parachute battalion. Naval special forces: 2 naval sniper brigades (1 each in the Western and Eastern fleets).
The ground forces, which number almost a million people, are divided into four strategic echelons. The first is located directly on the border with South Korea and consists of infantry and artillery units. If the DPRK starts a war, its task is to break through the South Korean border fortifications. If South Korea and the United States strike the first blow, the task of this echelon is to prevent the enemy troops from moving inland. The first echelon includes four infantry corps and one artillery corps.
1 Infantry Corps: 2, 13, 31, 46-I infantry divisions, four brigades - tank, light infantry, SAU, MLRS. 2: 3, 6, 8-I infantry divisions, 32-I light infantry brigade, two more light infantry brigades, as well as brigade tank, SAU, MRLS, paratrooper. 4-th: 26, 28, 33, 41-I infantry divisions, four brigades - tank, two light infantry, reconnaissance-landing. 5-th: 5, 12, 25, 45-I infantry divisions, 103-I tank tank brigade, 75 and 80-I light infantry brigade, brigade of SAU, RSZ brigade, paratrooper brigade. The 620 artillery corps comprises seven ACS 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 a war, its task is to develop an offensive in depth of the South Korean defense (including the seizure of Seoul) after its breakthrough by the forces of the first echelon. If South Korea and the United States begin the 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. 806-th MK: 4, 7, 47-I and two more mechanized brigades, light infantry brigade, brigade of ACS. 815-th MK: 26-I and four more mechanized brigades, light infantry brigade, brigade of ACS. 820 Tk: 105-I armored division, three armored brigades, 15-I mechanized brigade, SAU brigade, MLRS brigade.
The third echelon provides defense of Pyongyang, is a reserve and training base for the first two echelons. Includes five infantry and one artillery corps. 3-th PC: five infantry divisions (including two training and reserve), tank and artillery brigades. 6-th PC: three infantry divisions (including two training and reserve), an artillery brigade. 7-th PC: 10 and 20-I infantry divisions, four training and reserve divisions, 87-I light infantry brigade, artillery brigade. 12-th PC: motorized infantry and infantry divisions, tank and artillery brigades. 91-th PC defense of the capital: four motorized infantry brigade, MLRS brigade. Candong Artillery Corps - six artillery and MLRS brigades.
The fourth echelon is located along the border of the DPRK with the PRC and the Russian Federation. It is, like the third, educational reserve, as well as the "echelon of the last hope." Includes two mechanized and four infantry corps. 108 and 425-y MK have the same structure - five mechanized brigades, light infantry brigade, brigade ACS. 10 and 11-th PC include one infantry and one training and reserve division, MLRS brigade. 8-th PC: three infantry divisions (including one training and reserve), tank and artillery brigades.
9-th PC: 24 and 42-I infantry divisions, training and reserve infantry division, MLRS brigade. It is this building that has a border with the Russian Federation in its area of responsibility. The ground forces also include 4 border and 22 engineering brigades.
The KPA tank fleet includes up to 4 thousands of main and at least 250 light tanks. The oldest are the Soviet T-54 and T-55 (for 1000 of those and others) and their Chinese copies of the Tour 59 (175). There are 500 Soviet T-62. On their basis in the DPRK a family of Chonma tanks was created (at least 470 units). The most modern North Korean tank - "Songun-915", known in the West and in Russia under the name "Pokpun-ho." It is also based on T-62, but using more advanced T-72 and T-80 technologies. Carries 125-mm cannon, 14,5-mm KPVT machine gun, paired with the Balso-3 anti-tank missile system (a copy of the Soviet Kornet anti-tank missile system) and the Hwa Son Chon anti-aircraft missile system (a copy of the Needle-1). Not a single tank in the world has such a set of weapons. 200 – 400 units “Songun-915” have been released so far. Light tanks: 100 Soviet PT-76, 50 Chinese 62 Tour, no less than 100 own Xinhen PT-85 (amphibious tank with 85-mm cannon).
There are 222 Soviet BMP-1, as well as more 1500 BTR. The oldest are the BTR-40 and the BTR-152 (around 600 in total). Slightly newer are the Soviet BTR-60 (250 units), BTR-50 (50) and their own "Type-73", created on the basis of the Chinese Tour 531 and better known under the name VTT-323 (at least 500). The most modern 32 of Russian BTR-80 and up to 100 created on their basis in the DPRK BTR "Tip-69".
KPA artillery includes numerous towed Soviet, Chinese and own-made guns. 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 own-produced guns, 200 D-20 and XNXX XMNXX and 100 X-NUMX X-NUMX and 20 D-59 and 60 1973 and 1983 A significant part of these guns has been converted into self-propelled guns by installing it on a tracked carrier ATS-60. There are at least 3000 ACS M-7500 and M-1976 "Juche-po" with a range of up to 82 kilometers. Thus, the total number of ACS and towed guns exceeds 1978. Mortars (up to 120) are mainly produced in-house: M-1982 (140 mm), M-1000 (120 mm), M-43 (5000 mm). 3774 Soviet 63-mm M-500 mortars are also available. The number of MLRS exceeds 21. This is at least 11 Chinese towed Tour 1973, produced under license in North Korea, 1990 Soviet BM-100, its own BM-63, M-50, M-14, 100 Chinese Tour 14, 200 Soviet towed RPU-1968 and 20 BM-200 200 own M-500 and Soviet BMD-24 (1984 mm), from 1990 to 240 Soviet BM-XNUMX, own M-XNUMX and M-XNUMX (XNUMX mm).
Anti-tank weapons: ATGM "Baby", "Competition", to 1100 ATGM "Fagot", as well as at least a thousand self-propelled anti-tank weapons M-1974 (100 mm).
In the number of almost all classes of equipment, KPA ground forces occupy at least the fourth place in the world. Such an enormous amount largely compensates for its archaic nature. This applies particularly to artillery, the KPA trunks are in second place in the world after the PLA. The North Korean artillery is capable of creating a real sea of fire in the frontal zone, it is impossible to physically suppress such a number of guns.
The DPRK Air Force organizationally consists of 6 air divisions and 3 anti-aircraft missile brigades. 1st Hell: 24th bomber up (equipped with old Chinese N-5 bomber based on IL-28), 35th fighter ap (Chinese J-6 fighters, copies of MiG-19), 55th assault up (the most modern attack aircraft are 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), a helicopter regiment. 2nd hell: bomber up (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, transport ap (An-2 / Y-5), helicopter regiment. 3rd hell: 4th and 11th IAP (armed with the oldest J-5 fighter, 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 Air Koryo airline, which includes passenger planes carrying top officials of the DPRK and KPA, as well as seven helicopter regiments, including the only Mi-24 attack helicopter regiment and the 64th MD-American helicopter regiment 500 acquired in the 80s through intermediaries. 8th study hell includes aviation an academy and four regiments of training aircraft. Anti-aircraft missile brigades: 3, 66, 116th.
Shock aircraft Air KNA comprises up 86 extremely outdated Chinese bomber H-5, from 18 to 27 Su-7, 34-35 relatively new Su-25 (including 4 UBC) and to 40 intermediate age Chinese attack planes Q-5 . Fighters: up 107 extremely outdated Chinese J-5 and Soviet MIG-17, to 109 J-6 and MiG-19, to 232 MIG-21 and J-7, to 56 MIG-23, 16-35 MIG-29 (in including up to 6 combat training MiG-29UB). There is an 2 EW aircraft based on An-24 (another one, possibly in storage). Transport aviation in the classic sense of the DPRK is not. Air Koryo includes 3 IL-76, 4 IL-62, 5 An-24, 14 IL-14, 2 – 3 IL-18, 2 Tu-134, 3 Tu-154 (1, 204 Tu-300, 2 Tu-5 (35, 15 Tu-15, 2 Tu-49), 6, 97 Tu-5, 18 Tu-135 (5, 5 Tu-17, 20 Tu-47) Two Tu-24 designed to carry the manual and some of the most important goods. Prior to 68, An-8 and Y-17 are used by the SSO to transfer special forces. Training aircraft: up to 4 MiG-26bis, MiG-108UTI and JJ-2, up to 23 CJ-5, up to 4 CJ-4 and Yak-1, up to 5 JJ-8 (J-14 training option (J-87), (J-500, X-NNXX) (up to XNUMX JJ-XNUMX (training version J-XNUMX) Attack helicopters: XNUMX – XNUMX Mi-XNUMXD. Multipurpose helicopters: up to XNUMX Mi-XNUMXT and Mi-XNUMX, XNUMX Mi-XNUMX, up to XNUMX Mi-XNUMX, up to XNUMX Z-XNUMX (Chinese copy of Mi-XNUMX) and Mi-XNUMX (still XNUMX in storage), XNUMX – XNUMX (XNUMX-XNUMX) and Mi-XNUMX (still XNUMX in storage), XNUMX – XNUMX (XNUMX) and Mi-XNUMX (still XNUMX in storage), XNUMX – XNUMX (XNUMX in Chinese storage), XNUMX (still XNUMX stored), XNUMX – XNUMX (XNUMX in storage), XNUMX – XNUMX (Chinese copy of Mi-XNUMX) and Mi-XNUMX (still XNUMX stored), XNUMX – XNUMX (XNUMX) amphibians Mi-XNUMX, up to XNUMX MD-XNUMX.
All ground air defense included in the Air Force. It includes the 2 Regiment (6 divisions) C-200 XR (36 PU), 41 C-75 (246 PU) division, X-NUMX C-32 (125 PU) division, no less than the KN-XNNX X-NX division of the X-NNXX division of the X-NNXX of the S-128 (06 PU), no less than the 8 of the X-NXX PU-06 (300 PU), the no. PU). KN-9 is a local version of the Soviet C-6000PT / PS, or the Chinese HQ-4500. In service with 2 MANPADS (5 "Strela-1500" and their Chinese copies HN-1, 16 "Needle-250" and their local counterparts NT-57РGJ), several thousand ZSU and anti-aircraft guns, including up to 2 ZSU-XNUM -148, 23 ZSU-4-1500, 23 ZU-1000, 61 400-K, 12 KS-524, 19 KS-XNUMX.
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 be considered new only relatively. To a certain extent, this is compensated by the quantity, but in this case this factor has a much smaller value than for the ground forces. However, the actions of aviation of any enemy of the DPRK at low altitudes will be extremely complicated by the mountainous terrain and a huge number of MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns in the North Korean air defense. Old aircraft may well be used as kamikazes, including those with nuclear weapons.
The Navy is divided into the Western Fleet (includes 5 naval areas, 6 squadron) and Eastern (7 BMP, 10 squadron). For geopolitical reasons, the exchange of ships between fleets is impossible even in peacetime, so each fleet relies on its shipbuilding base.
By 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 an air defense system at all. However, for actions in the coastal waters of the North Korean Navy have very significant potential. Their strongest side is a large number of small submarines capable of planting special forces groups on the enemy’s coast as well as operating against enemy ships in shallow water. In regular border clashes between North Korean and South Korean combat boats, advantage, as a rule, is on the side of the former.
The basis of the submarine fleet is 22 of old submarines of the project 633 / 033 (Soviet, Chinese and own construction). Perhaps preserved to 4 completely old Soviet submarines of the project 613. There are 30 – 40 small submarines Sang-O (built on their own project), 23 ultra-small submarines “South” Yugoslav development (10 in reserve) and up to 10 “Yono” (Iranian “Gadir”).
At least 2 escort ships (frigates) of the Nadzhin type, 1 catamaran Soho (possibly decommissioned), up to 30 corvettes (including the newest Nampo 2 type 3) are armed. Rocket boats: up to 8 of old Soviet projects 205, 4 of their Chinese counterparts of the 021 project, up to 10 of their local counterparts of the Soju type, up to 6 of very old Soviet projects of the 183Р °, up to 6 of their local counterparts of the Sohung type, up to 6 of the latest proprietary types Nongo (with local counterparts of the Russian Ukr X-35 RCC).
The DPRK naval forces are practically the only fleet in the world that continues to operate torpedo boats on a large scale (mostly of its own projects). It’s up to 100 “Sing Hong” on a hydrofoil, 42 of “Kuson” type, up to 3 Soviet 206М project, up to 13 Soviet 183 project. Patrol boats: 54 of Chongjin type, 18 – 33 of Sinpo type, Chakho type of 59, Jongzhu type of XonMX, 6 Chinese Shanghai-13 type of 23, 062 Soviet Soviet project. Minesweepers: 2 type "Yukto-19", 201 type "Yukto-19", to 1 boats of the type "Pipa-go."
Landing ships and boats are focused on carrying out operations only within the Korean Peninsula itself, so they are small, but there are a lot of them. These are 10 TDK of “Hanto” type, 18 TDK of “Hunnam” type, 15 TDK of “Hanchon” type, 51 landing craft of “Chongjin” type, 96 DK “Nampo”, 140 DK on airbag of “Konban” type.
Coastal defense covers the entire coast of the DPRK. It includes 6 brigades (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21). Includes a significant number of Chinese SCRK HY-1 and HY-2, the Soviet SCRC "Sopka", tools CM-4-1, M-1992, M-46, ML-20.
In general, the noticeable technical backwardness of the KPA is largely compensated for by the huge amount of weapons, equipment and personnel, a good level of combat training and fanaticism of military personnel. In addition, the KPA is very well adapted to operations in mountainous conditions. This makes it a dangerous opponent even for the three strongest armies in the world (American, Chinese, Russian) and completely invincible for all the rest.
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