Korean army. How do celebrity soldiers actually serve? Organization of the armed forces of the DPRK


Or even more so the Americans.
Let me remind you of the three largest US bases in South Korea. US Air Force Base Osan Air Base. One of the two largest US air bases in Korea. Located in Pyeongtaek city. It houses the 51st fighter-interceptor aviation wing. It is equipped with A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and F-16 Fighting Falcon light fighters. The headquarters of the 7th is also located there. air army USA. His mission is to defend South Korea from attacks from North Korea.
US Air Force Base Gyeongsang (Kunsan Air Base). Along with Osan Base, one of the most powerful US Air Force bases on the peninsula. Located in the west South Korea, y Yellow Sea. It is home to the 8th Airlift Wing, also known as the Wolf Pack. Its A-16 fighters are equipped with the latest navigation systems and night vision devices, which allows them to fight at any time of the day.
Another base is Camp Humphreys. Base ground forces USA near the city of Pyeongtaek. Already, about 17,000 military personnel are stationed there.
Be that as it may, the infantry is still seizing the land; neither massive bombings nor nuclear strikes on North Korea will be able to break the population and military of this country! The entire country is riddled with a network of underground shelters and tunnels. Yes, and the existing army, albeit equipped with outdated weapons, but fanatically loyal, will first erase the southerners along with the American bases, and with luck, will drown the aircraft carrier group, no matter how 100 submarines are available, including those equipped with ballistic missiles with thermonuclear filling. They may make a few unsympathetic mushrooms over American cities, and don’t discount the special forces, each of whose fighters is ready to act alone on enemy territory.
Southern Seoul is 25 km from the 38th parallel, which forms the Seoul-Incheon agglomeration with a population of 23.5 million people, the fourth largest in the world... Just in the zone of destruction by conventional artillery.
And you can laugh with appearance leader of the country and believe the rumors spread by liberal propaganda, but do not underestimate the North Koreans. These are the best fighters in the world today.
Duration of military service in the army North Korea is 10 or more years, in some cases 3-4 years. During this time, special forces soldiers become unique professionals. In addition, they also gain combat experience on enemy territory. One of their tasks when passing a kind of exam is to penetrate enemy territory and carry out some task.
In total, according to available information, the DPRK special forces include 12 infantry brigades, 10 sniper brigades, 17 reconnaissance battalions and 1 airborne battalion for a total of 120 thousand special forces.
The total number of personnel in the army is, according to various estimates, from 850 to 1200 thousand people. There are about 4,000,000 people in the reserve. The mobilization reserve is 4.7 million people, mobilization resources are 6.2 million people, and 10 million people are fit for military service.
99% of the country's population has military training. Mountainous terrain, this is almost the entire territory, is stuffed with long-term fortifications, systems volley fire and artillery. And besides, the ideological component on the highest level, they have nothing to lose. Win or die, do not surrender - these are not empty words for the North Koreans. So those who try to democratize, especially on the ground, will have to learn all the delights of a large-scale guerrilla war.
The actual number of missile systems and artillery is perhaps 2-3 times greater than indicated below.
IN combat strength The ground forces have 20 corps (12 infantry, 4 mechanized, armored, 2 artillery, capital defense), 27 infantry divisions, 15 tank and 14 mechanized brigades, a brigade of operational-tactical missiles, 21 artillery brigades, 9 brigades of multiple launch rocket systems, a missile tactical missile regiment. In service there are: about 3,500 medium and main battle tanks and over 560 light tanks, more than 2,500 armored personnel carriers, more than 10,400 artillery pieces(including 3,500 towed and 4,400 self-propelled), over 7,500 mortars, more than 2,500 MLRS, about 2,000 ATGM installations, 34 tactical missile installations, 30 operational-tactical missile installations, 11,000 anti-aircraft gun installations (of which about 3,000 are in stationary positions), about 10000 MANPADS
As of 1996, the DPRK Air Force consisted of six air divisions (three combat, two military transport and one training), directly subordinate to the National Aviation Command.
The DPRK Air Force and Air Defense personnel number about 110,000. The service life of a conscript in the Air Force and Air Defense Forces is 3-4 years.
As of 2007, the DPRK Air Force was armed with about 1,100 aircraft and helicopters, thus military aviation North Korea is one of the most numerous in the world. Most of them are modernized Soviet and Chinese cars of outdated models, but there are also modern examples.
The Air Force has about 590 combat aircraft. The basis of their fleet is MiG-17/J-5 (107), MiG-19/J-6 (159), MiG-21/J-7 (159). The troops also have Su-25 (34) and MiG-29 (20). There are about 300 transport aircraft of different brands.
Among the helicopters there are: 24 - Mi-24, 80 - Hughes-500 D, 48 - Z-5, 15 - Mi-8/-17, 139 - Mi-2.
The powerful air defense system includes more than 9,000 anti-aircraft artillery systems: from light anti-aircraft machine gun installations to the world's most powerful 100 mm anti-aircraft guns, as well as self-propelled anti-aircraft installations ZSU-57 and ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". A serious drawback of North Korean air defense is the virtual absence of more or less modern anti-aircraft missiles ny complexes. There are several thousand anti-aircraft missile launchers - from stationary complexes S-75 (180 launchers, installed around the capital), S-125 (140; capable of shooting down low-flying targets), S-200 (40), S-200 (from 2 to 40 ) and mobile "Cube" and "Strela-10" to portable installations - but all these are outdated anti-aircraft systems.
The Navy is armed with about 650 ships with a total displacement of 107 thousand tons. They include 5 guided missile corvettes, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 40 missile, 134 torpedo and 108 artillery boats, 203 landing boats, more than 100 submarines (of which 22 are diesel submarines of Project 633, 29 are small submarines of the San -ABOUT"). It is armed with anti-ship missiles of the P-15 Termit type (SS-N-2 Styx).
Coastal defense: 2 regiments of Silkworm and C-2 Sopka anti-ship missile launchers (52 complexes in total), 122-, 130- and 152-mm guns (288 units).
Seven types of ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ones with a range of up to 7.5 thousand km. In the first salvo, up to 500 tactical and strategic missiles, not counting tens of thousands of small missiles from multiple launch rocket systems.
Presumably, the DPRK has at its disposal from 12 to 15 nuclear warheads and various missile launch vehicles for them. Although some sources claim that up to 70 charges.
The first to try to eliminate the leader of the young republic were the southerners, who organized the terrorist attack in Pyongyang back in 1946.
"Pyongyang. Spring 1946. March 15. This day, as if by order, turned out to be clear and relatively warm. Muslin and, like feathers, light smoky-white clouds floated over the city, illuminated bright sun. The capital of the DPRK got prettier literally before our eyes and looked solemn. Dressed in kumachi, she resembled a huge poppy field. On the streets and squares are the red flags of our Motherland and the national flags of the Korean state.
On this significant day, the Korean people freely celebrated their great national holiday for the first time - the 27th anniversary of the anti-Japanese movement. Organized columns of demonstrators and simply groups of townspeople walked in an endless stream to the central square, which was already so crowded with people that there was nowhere for an apple to fall. It was attended by several thousand people. And people kept walking and walking...
Representatives of the city authorities, the Korean People's Army and police services, as well as our line guards and the patrol service of the Pyongyang garrison, were responsible for maintaining order in the capital. At the government rostrum - Chairman of the Provisional People's Committee Kim Il Sung, leaders of the new democratic government, representatives of party organizations of the Workers' Party of Korea, youth and others public organizations Pyongyang, member of the Military Council of the 25th Army, Lieutenant General Lebedev.
At the rally, a letter was read to the Soviet government and the people of our country. The Soviet representative also made a detailed speech at the rally. The speech of our military leader was fiery, passionate and made an exceptionally high, truly indelible impression on the demonstrators. As soon as he proclaimed a toast in honor of the indestructible friendship of the Soviet people with the Korean and other countries of Asia and Oceania, a real ovation broke out, which did not cease for a long time.
The rally was drawing to a close. Who would have thought that on this special day for Koreans, attackers who intended to commit a terrorist act would quietly sneak into the column of students passing near the government rostrum. One of the attackers, walking in a column, when he approached fifteen steps to the podium, threw a grenade. There was a slight hiss and a barely visible smoky tail. It seemed that a terrible tragedy was inevitable...
Below, near the podium, stood several of our officers, and among them, junior lieutenant Yakov Novichenko, a brave Siberian warrior. So he made the only important decision. Seeing the “flying death”, he caught it with his right hand in a jump. What to do? There is nowhere to throw it. There are people all around. Pressing the grenade to his stomach, the officer fell to the ground. There was an explosion. Fortunately, the commanders on the podium and next to him were not injured. The rally participants responded to the grenade explosion with a powerful surge of indignation and indignation.
Well, what happened to Novichenko? It was difficult to determine whether he was alive or dead because the grenade exploded underneath him. Two Korean soldiers and our junior commander lifted Yakov Tikhonovich and carried his bloody, lifeless body on a stretcher to an ambulance. How did the future life of the fearless warrior develop? Thank God he survived.
Major of the medical service Elizaveta Bogdanova from our sanitary company, who was on duty at the hospital at that time, made the following entry: “At first glance, in front of us was a completely mutilated man, who had nothing alive left: he had been torn off right hand, numerous injuries to the chest, the left eye was knocked out, numerous wounds in other parts of the body, especially the toes were damaged, in which solid fragments stuck out...”
Subsequently, the leading surgeon of the hospital, Colonel of the medical service Smirnov, will tell him:
“Happy is your God, Yakov Tikhonovich, it’s as if you were born in a shirt. And if it weren’t for the voluminous book, Alexander Stepanov’s novel “Port Arthur” (600 pages, published in mid-1944, on the personal instructions of I. Stalin, in thick cardboard crust in gray-blue calico. Auth.) which was under the overcoat and strongly pressed by the waist belt to the stomach, then, in all likelihood, no surgical intervention of ours would have been required.
If it weren’t for her, your savior, then you, a soldier, would be in the next world. Now rejoice, you will live long. The old woman with the scythe thoroughly riddled it. There was almost no living space on your body. Frankly, we literally snatched you from her clutches."
Every day, dozens, and by the evening hundreds of Korean townspeople gathered at our hospital to learn about the state of health of the brave and decisive commander of the Red Army. The award sheet, signed by the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Kazarinov, in which the junior lieutenant served, noted: “With his heroic deed, Y. Novichenko showed selfless devotion to his Motherland, the All-Union Communist Party of the Bolsheviks, with honor and dignity he fulfilled the task assigned to him to protect the peaceful people’s procession demonstrators and their patriotic duty"...
This life story was filmed in a joint Soviet-North Korean film in 1985, called “A Second for a Feat”, at the same time Novichenko was awarded the highest distinction - the Korean hero star.
And the attempt on the life of the DPRK leader and his associates was far from the last.
The time has come for Southerners to answer for their actions:
Evening of January 21, 1968. The clock hands are counting down the last hours of the fading day. At the beginning of ten, patrol policemen guarding the territory near the presidential residence of Chongwadae in Seoul notice an approaching group of people in the uniform of the South Korean Armed Forces (ROKA - Republic of Korea's Army). “And why the hell don’t these soldiers sit in the barracks in the evening?” - shivering in the wind and looking displeasedly at the unexpected visitors, one of the policemen heads towards them, intending to find out the reason for the appearance of the military at such an inopportune time...
He was not destined to hear the answer - everything was swallowed up by the roar of a suddenly bursting fiery hell - heavy machine gun fire and explosions hand grenades. Even buses passing by on the street were damaged by a hail of bullets and shrapnel flying literally in all directions (and, unfortunately, several passengers died). In a fierce battle, the police who arrived in time, having a significant numerical superiority, managed to kill five attackers and capture one alive. But the interrogation of the prisoner at the headquarters of the national police did not take place, the unknown fighter committed suicide in front of the amazed guards who did not have time to stop him... At the same time, during military clashes, a high-ranking policeman, the chief of the police department, Chae Kyu-sik ( Choe Kyu-shik). Most of those who attacked the residence managed to break through the police ring, knock down hastily erected barriers and begin to retreat, breaking up into several small groups.
As a result of the large-scale countermeasures that immediately began. During the sabotage activities, which continued until February 3, South Korean military personnel and police managed to capture only one North Korean special forces soldier alive. In addition to the previously killed 6 participants in the attack on the residence of South Korean President Park Chung-hee, another 22 special forces soldiers preferred death in battle to capture. Two of the commandos, despite everything, at the cost of incredible efforts, still managed to break through and enter the territory of the DPRK!
The South Koreans suffered incomparably greater losses - the total number of victims was close to 140, with a ratio of almost 1:1 in terms of the number of killed and wounded.
This was the debut of the reconnaissance and sabotage group, formed from 31 soldiers of detachment No. 124 and arriving from the DPRK with the aim of destroying the inhabitants of the presidential residence - the Blue House in Seoul.

While North Korea has sent (this became known today) 20 combat boats to the Yellow Sea, let's look at what it has...

1. Of course, the main strength of the DPRK army is the number of personnel. In percentage terms, North Korea's army is the largest in the world. With a population of 24.5 million people, the country's armed forces number 1.1 million (4.5% of the population). The DPRK army is recruited by conscription, the service life is 5-10 years.

2. In 2015, the leadership of the DPRK decided that the North Korean army should sharply increase in size. To achieve this, the country has introduced mandatory military service for women who have hitherto served on a voluntary basis. From now on, all girls over 17 years of age are required to serve in the army. Women were nevertheless given some relief: the service life of Korean women will be “only” 3 years. As an incentive not to evade service, the country's leadership decided that only girls who have served in the army will now be accepted into universities.

3. As of 2008, the strength of the DPRK Navy was 46,000 people, in 2012 - 60,000. The conscription service life is 5-10 years. The majority of the Navy consists of Coast Guard forces. Due to the imbalance in composition, the fleet has limited opportunities for control of maritime spaces. The main task of the Navy is to support the combat operations of ground forces against the South Korean army. The Navy is capable of conducting missile and artillery attacks on coastal targets.

4. The DPRK fleet includes 3 guided missile frigates (2 Najin, 1 Soho), 2 destroyers, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 4 Soviet submarines of Project 613, 23 Chinese and domestic submarines of Project 033.

5. In addition, 29 small submarines of the Sang-O project, more than 20 midget submarines, 34 missile boats.

6. The DPRK is armed with fire support boats, 56 large and more than 100 small patrol boats, 10 Hante small landing ships (capable of carrying 3-4 light tanks), up to 120 landing boats (including about 100 Nampo) , created on the basis of the Soviet P-6 torpedo boat) and about 130 hovercraft.

7. The DPRK Rocket Forces were created in the image of the Chinese Rocket Forces. Actually rocket troops are not even a separate branch of the armed forces, but an independent branch of the armed forces of the DPRK, which in the foreseeable future should become the basis of the country's military power. The main missiles of the DPRK are designed on the basis of secular models: Hwaseong-5 (an analogue of the Soviet R-17), Hwaseong-6 (modernized Hwaseong-5 with an increased range), Nodong, Musudan (a number of sources are considered based on the design of the Soviet R-27 SLBM, in mainly due to external resemblance), Taepodong.

8. The main missile of North Korea can be called "Nodon-B", which was developed on the basis of the Soviet prototype - a single-stage ballistic missile of submarines R-27, adopted by the Soviet Navy in 1968. The firing range of "Nodon-B" (estimated at 2750-4000 km) exceeds that of the R-27 (2500 km), which was achieved by increasing the length and diameter of the hull - this made it possible to use more capacious fuel and oxidizer tanks on the rocket, although it worsened its flight characteristics.

9. "Nodon-B" can hit American military installations in Okinawa and even (if the range estimate of 4000 km is correct) in Guam, that is, already on the actual American territory. And after the successful tests of underwater missile launch in the DPRK (according to local media), the entire territory of the United States is under attack.

10. In addition, North Korea has developed a ballistic missile, as well as a launch vehicle capable of launching artificial satellites into low-Earth orbit. The first Taepodong rockets were capable of delivering a payload weighing 750 kg over a distance of up to 2000 km. In 2006, 25-30 of them were created in the DPRK. The missiles were constantly being improved. As a result, the flight range was increased to 6,700 km. And today, US experts believe that the DPRK is developing the Taepodong-3 missile, which has a flight range of 10-12 thousand km. According to media reports, the DPRK army may already have 12-23 nuclear warheads.

11. According to South Korean media, the DPRK army has more than 21 thousand artillery pieces.

12. The main strike force of the DPRK artillery, perhaps, is the M1985 volley fire system, caliber 240mm. The system has 12 guides, and the firing range, apparently, reaches 35 km.

13. The M1911 multiple launch rocket system has similar characteristics. Caliber – 240 mm. Number of guides – 12. Firing range around 35 km. The DPRK has at least 500 M1985 and M1991.

14. Much more is known about the M-1978 "Koksan" self-propelled guns, since it is exported and was captured by US troops in Iraq.

15. Self-propelled gun M-1978 “Koksan” was created on the T-55 chassis. Caliber – 170 mm. Firing range – 40-60 km. Rate of fire 1-2 shots/5 minutes. Speed ​​on the highway is 40 km/h. Power reserve 300 km. The M1989 vehicle, on the same chassis, is used as an ammunition carrier.

16. Artillery in the DPRK is also represented by self-propelled guns of the Juche-Po series. Unites a whole family of vehicles with weapons from 122 to 152 mm. Unfortunately, there is almost no information on this machine, but it is known for certain that Kim Yer Sung directly took part in its development.

17. The DPRK army has at least 200 Pokphunho tanks. This is the most secret North Korean tank, there is almost no information on its performance characteristics on the network. Created on the basis of the T-72 Armament – ​​125 mm smoothbore gun.

18. Also in service is a certain number of towed Soviet guns of the 30-60s.

19. The DPRK is armed with 200 Soviet BMP-1, 32 BTR80A, at least 1000 BTR-60 (hardly on the move), 350 completely antique BTR-40. But the main transport of the North Korean infantry is its own vehicles: VTT-323 - created on the basis of the Chinese transporter YW531 It transports 10 infantrymen in full gear, they also install 82-mm mortars and use them as mobile mortar batteries, as part of a motorized battalion.

20. The DPRK Air Force is one of the most numerous in the world and is armed with about 1,600 aircraft. Official statistics information about the DPRK Air Force is not available, so estimates of the number of aircraft in service are approximate. The main striking force of the DPRK Air Force is the Soviet MIG-29 and SU-25 fighters. According to experts, the DPRK army has 523 fighters and 80 bombers in service.

Today North Korea is perhaps one of the last openly totalitarian states. In a fairly democratic world, this state of affairs is especially noticeable. All aspects of the life of society and the state - politics, ideology, economics, culture - speak about the peculiarities of the country's life.

The structure of North Korea, militarized to the limit, is now especially dangerous due to its unpredictability. And this state has a 17-kilometer border with Russia. How strong is the North Korean army? How many military personnel are already on full alert, and how many citizens are ready to take up arms?

Information problem

The North Korean army is completely classified, like the country itself. All information about the number of military personnel and available equipment is quite approximate. As a rule, this data is either official, that is, practically made public to deceive the enemy, under which the whole world is designated, or from the yellow press and secret structures - sources that also cannot be particularly trusted. However, there is nothing to choose from, since there are virtually no other sources with information about the North Korean army.

Army

The fact that the country has a frankly weak economy for a number of reasons has been known to the whole world for the last half century. There is nothing to discuss here, since a shift in the assessment of the development vector in a positive or negative direction will not change anything. However, the military structure of the DPRK, known as the Korean People's Army, is among the most powerful on the planet. Disciplined, having been in a pre-war environment for decades, and having a clear structure that corresponds to modern realities, it can turn out to be a tough nut to crack even for leaders such as the USA, China or Russia.

Even a comparison of the armies of North and South Korea shows how strong the DPRK's armed forces are.

Ideology

Of course, the main factor of military power is quantitative composition experienced personnel and modern technology. But the moral level of the DPRK army and the effectiveness of the ideology that supports the desire to fight against the enemy in soldiers and officers cannot be belittled.

The leading ideological appeals of the DPRK are the Juche ideas. Literally, “chu” means “person, possessor”, and “che” means “natural, natural”. That is, “Juche” indicates a situation where a person can be the owner of both himself and the whole world in general, or, more briefly and literally, “reliance on one’s own strength.” North Korean ideology in the DPRK and to some extent in the USSR was considered the ideas of Marxism-Leninism combined with Asian philosophy.

However, we are not talking here about theoretical postulates, which are also quite controversial, but about the fact that in North Korea there is an official ideology that is extremely widespread among the population and serves as a support for the ruling regime.

The term "songun", that is, "everything for the army", is a practical aid to Juche. It defines the KPA as the leading force in all state affairs and in the division national wealth. “The army is in the leading place” is the main thesis of the top leadership of North Korea, which is consistent in everything:

  1. In the political sphere of the state: “The army is in a leading position in politics.”
  2. IN national economy: “The army is in a leading position in economic activity.”
  3. In the ideological sphere: “The army has a leading position in ideology.” This principle is central to the entire ideological conception.

Songun identifies the armed forces in the country as a structure with state functions that occupies leading positions in the state. According to the ruling elite, the army in North Korea is the “Great Repository of Power.”

Number

The lack of reliable information especially affects the determination of the size of the North Korean army. Most sources on the Internet start from 1 million people as a certain milestone. But otherwise, the data diverge from 850 thousand to one and a half million and more. At the same time, the army has a very modest budget. So, in 2013 it reached only five billion dollars. In comparison with world leaders, this level is extremely low.

However, according to experts, the army of this country is currently in fourth position (some, however, give it fifth) on the planet in terms of its numbers. International experts sometimes give it primacy in this indicator even in comparison with Russia.

The reserve is about 4 million more soldiers and officers. The mobilization reserve totals 4.7 million soldiers and officers, mob resources - 6.2 million soldiers and officers, and those suitable for military service- about 10 million soldiers and officers. And this is with a population of North Korea of ​​almost 25 million people. Thus, approximately half of North Koreans can serve in the country's army. It will be difficult for the conquerors, unless there is a betrayal, as was the case with Gaddafi in Libya or with Hussein in Iraq.

These large armed forces are constantly on alert. Over the past decades, the DPRK has become a continuous militarized camp, which is tensely waiting for an attack from old enemies.

In the face of the enemy

Another conflict between the leadership of the United States and North Korea occurred in August this year. Korea threatened to launch ballistic missiles, China and Russia called on state leaders for peaceful dialogue and solving problems exclusively in verbal form. Together with South Korea, it was proposed to develop a common concept for further actions. So far the conflict is in a sluggish phase, but that is not the point. Over the course of several days of tension, more than 3.5 million people voluntarily enlisted in the North Korean army - this does not count those who are already in the ranks of the army. “In the face of the enemy,” North Koreans are ready to unite and fight.

conscription

The country has developed a system of compulsory military service, according to which all residents must serve. The draft age is 17 years. It is still almost impossible to deviate from service. How many serve in the army in North Korea? The service time in general is 5-12 years, which is radically different from other countries.

Decide differently women's question in the army. Until recently, representatives of the fair sex could only serve as volunteers. Their service time until 2003 was 10 years, then - 7. But currently there is evidence that women will also be required to undergo compulsory military service. Women will serve until they are 23 years old.

It is this policy that leads to a large proportion of those liable for military service. Moreover, the significant birth rate, despite a number of nuances, leads to the fact that there are many people of military age in the DPRK.

Structure of the armed forces

To date, 5 military branches are directly included in the structure of the DPRK army. Among them, ground forces stand out in terms of their size. Some sources include other structures, quite small.

Most of the military branches are united in several lines of defense.

The first stands on the border with South Korea. With the outbreak of a potential war, these troops are required to break through the enemy’s border line or prevent enemy formations from breaking into the rear areas of the country.

The next line of defense is located almost immediately behind the first. It combines infantry and mobile units. His activities are directly dependent on the current situation. If the DPRK begins hostilities, then the troops of the second line will begin to advance deep into the enemy’s defenses, right up to entering Seoul. When their country is attacked, the second line is obliged to eliminate enemy breakthroughs with counterattacks.

The purpose of the third line is to protect the country's capital. In addition, it will be the training and reserve basis for the first two milestones.

The last frontier is located on the border with neighboring states. It is classified as a training reserve unit. It is also called the “echelon of last hope.”

The structure of the army was clearly copied from the Soviet one. This is also evident from the ranks of the North Korean army. They correspond to the Soviet rank system, and all innovations come from existing titles.

Ground troops

The ground forces of North Korea in recent years, according to some reports, reach the number of a little more than 1 million troops. The structure of the troops includes 20 corps (more than half of them are infantry), which include dozens of subunits and units. There are more than 3.5 thousand tanks and over 0.5 thousand light tanks, over 20 thousand artillery systems of various types and missiles, and approximately 10 thousand MANPADS in service.

Air Force

The North Korean army has strong air cover. At the end of the twentieth century, aviation and air defense of the country were combined into several air divisions (three combat, two military transport and one training).

They included more than 100 thousand people. There are over 1 thousand combat vehicles in service. Consequently, the aviation structure of the DPRK may be one of the largest in the world. A significant part of the equipment is improved Soviet and Chinese aircraft of rather old models, but there are also modern types.

A strong air defense system includes more than 9 thousand anti-aircraft artillery systems of all types. A big disadvantage of North Korean air defense is the predominance of outdated systems.

Naval forces

The North Korean naval forces include two formations: the Eastern and Western fleets. The ships are mainly designed to conduct combat operations in a 50-kilometer coastal strip.

The modest tasks also determined the small composition of the associations - a little more than 60 thousand people. In total, the Navy has approximately 650 ships, but all warships small in size - boats and more than 100 submarines.

Coastal defenses consist of anti-ship missile installations and almost 300 guns.

North Korean Special Operations Forces

Nowadays, any armed forces have military special forces. In the North Korean army, the number of special forces, according to various sources, reaches about 100 thousand people (and maybe more). Like any other special forces, these troops fight behind enemy lines, counter enemy reconnaissance, and so on.

Special forces combine light infantry, reconnaissance and sniper units.

The management of special forces is carried out by two main structures of the Ministry of People's armed forces DPRK: Command Directorate special units and the Intelligence Bureau.

Weapons production

The parade of the armed forces in this country is for real bright picture. Despite international sanctions, the DPRK is still able to produce a variety of models of equipment and master the production of others.

The armament of the North Korean army is based on a powerful military-industrial complex. The country's military industry makes it possible to produce an annual quantity of weapons and equipment in the amount of 200 thousand machine guns, 3 thousand artillery systems, several hundred tanks and other types of military equipment. In addition, the country produces various types of naval vessels.

In the DPRK there are 17 enterprises producing small arms and artillery, 35 enterprises for the production of ammunition, 5 enterprises for the production of armored vehicles, 8 aircraft factories, 5 enterprises for the production of warships, 5 enterprises for the production of guided missiles etc. In addition, a part of civilian enterprises can be quickly and at low financial cost re-equipped for the production of military-purpose nomenclature. More than 180 defense factories operate underground in mountainous regions.

Production of complexes rocket technology North Korea allows not only to fully supply its army with ground-to-ground missiles, but also to export them to other countries. Work is being carried out rapidly in the field of creating intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear technologies.

The only thing that is not produced in the DPRK is military aircraft. Although if foreign components are supplied, their assembly on their own in the DPRK is real.

Missile weapons

North Korea is armed with:

  1. Hwaseong-11. Single-stage solid propellant rocket. On combat duty since 2007, North Korea began producing an analogue missile system"Tochka-U" in 2005. Distance - 100-120 km. The equipment is transported on a maneuverable SPU based on the chassis of a three-axle all-terrain vehicle.
  2. "Hwaseong-5". Flight at a distance of 320 km. On combat duty since 1985. This is a “home” development of North Korea. It is located on a maneuverable four-axle launcher.
  3. "Hwaseong-6". Flight over a distance of 700 km. Also a “home” development of the DPRK. On combat duty since 1990. Currently there are several hundred copies in service. It is located on a maneuverable four-axle launcher.
  4. "Hwaseong-7". On combat duty since 1997. Capable of flying 1000-1300 km. Located on a maneuverable 5-axle launcher.
  5. "No-Dong-2." On combat duty since 2004. Flight up to 2000 km. Located on a maneuverable 6-axle launcher.
  6. Hwaseong-10. Located on a maneuverable six-axis launcher.
  7. "Hwaseong-13". Demonstrated at the military parade in Pyongyang in 2012 in the amount of six copies. Flight at a distance of 5500-7500 km. It is located on a maneuverable eight-axle launcher.

Main disadvantages of KPA

North Korea's armed forces could inspire fear a large number states However, the North Korean army has many shortcomings. Negative sides KNA:

  • a small amount of fuel makes it possible to carry out large-scale fighting for a period of no more than 30 days;
  • long-term defense of the capital of the DPRK is impossible due to the small amount of food;
  • there are no means of the latest artillery detection, which reduces the effectiveness of shooting;
  • an attack from the sea is repelled by outdated weapons, and ships in general do not stand out for their autonomy and maneuverability;
  • No newest air force, air defense equipment, and the existing equipment makes it possible to repel an enemy attack for only a few days.

For all the shortcomings of the North Korean troops, they are one of the most powerful armies in the world. This is largely due to the fact that the country has numerous reserves of trained personnel ready to defend the country.

The negative aspects of the country's military structure, however, cannot exclude the fact that the DPRK army is capable of engaging in battle with the US army, and the presence atomic weapons complicates the situation even more. Especially for countries that share borders with North Korea, i.e. China, South Korea and Russia.

You can feel the real effectiveness of the army of this state only in the conditions of a real war, but this is precisely what is feared all over the world. No country, including the United States, yet wants to openly enter into conflict with the leadership of the DPRK.

Contrary to popular belief, a state army is never an instrument of conventional war alone. How state institute the army also carries out many other functions, most of which are implemented precisely in peacetime.

Why are armies needed?

The army can play several roles in society:

1. Institute for the socialization of the population according to the standards established by the authorities, ranging from the opportunity to obtain basic education and acceptable models social behavior to the suppression of the tendency to disobey authorities and psychological breakdown;

2. A social elevator for passionaries with leadership qualities, guaranteeing patriotism and psychological stability of the elites;

3. An instrument of coercion - or voluntary attraction of part of the population to unattractive work, as well as the creation of jobs in conditions of economic decline;

4. A tool for the utilization of passionaries as inconvenient for the authorities, prone to stagnation.

It is also obvious that in terms of their fighting qualities, conscripts and reservists will always be inferior to military professionals.

The brainchild of Hiram Maxim

Conscript armies in their modern form, when military service is extended to all segments of the population, not limited to individual classes or selective recruitment, is a relatively new phenomenon. It was generated by effective means of destroying manpower with a relatively short range of action: machine guns capable of mowing down any thickness of soldiers rushing into an attack, and artillery that confidently turns a narrow strip about fifteen kilometers wide into a lunar landscape. The warring parties could only bring new soldiers, shells and ammunition to the contact line, waiting to see who’s supplies would run out first. The apotheosis of such a war was the First World War. As you know, the Germans were the first to finish. The Austrians and Russians chose to run away and did not play the game to the end.

But the Second World War changed the situation significantly. The ratio of human losses in different countries clearly indicates that only underdeveloped dictatorial regimes fought with mountains of meat, capable, on the one hand, of massively driving human livestock to slaughter, and on the other, having nothing at their disposal except the resource of manpower. Advanced dictators and democracies took care of their people, throwing high-quality equipment and trained soldiers into battle, or exchanging industrial and technical power for cheap meat from an underdeveloped ally. The United States and Great Britain, for example, successfully fought with Soviet manpower while minimizing their own losses. As a last resort, democracies preferred to capitulate, believing that a living dog was better than a dead lion, and the occupiers would leave sooner or later.

After the war this process continued. Large conscript armies have become a common feature of backward regimes.

Perhaps the only exception to this rule was Israel, for which losing a war with its neighbors means irreversible disappearance from the political map. But even there, fatigue from mandatory conscription is growing. Having formally retained universal conscription, Israel is already moving along the path of creating a small number of highly professional combat units, the small number of which is compensated by training and technical equipment.

One country - two armies

The disintegration of a formally unified army into a professional and conscript army is in fact happening everywhere. Probably, for an adequate comparison of armies, it would be necessary to introduce, among other things, a system of coefficients for assessing the “effective strength”, equating, for example, 10-20-30 conscripts to one professional. It is also necessary to take into account technical equipment and, very importantly, motivation.

Based on this, let's try to create our own ranking of the armies of the world.

All ratings put the US Army in first place, and we will do the same. The United States leads by a wide margin in terms of technical equipment and military logistics. Their army is completely professional. The National Guard - the organized reserve of the US Army - falls out of the field of view of evaluators, however, it is also quite motivated and prepared. This has been proven in practice in Iraq and Afghanistan. The size of the US Army is 1.3 million, the National Guard is approximately half a million.

In second place, probably, should be placed the NATO bloc minus the United States (which is also part of NATO, being its ideologist, leader and locomotive, but has already been placed in first place). Formally, such a calculation can be challenged, but in fact it is correct. The armies of the NATO countries also serve mostly professionals. Conscription, where it exists, is a way of attracting into the army those who will later choose a military career. The total number of armies of NATO countries without the United States is 2.4 million people, of which 1.7 million are united under a common command.

In third place... Here the question arises: does it make sense to compare armies intended to solve tasks that are disparate in scale and content?

Obviously, one can only compare armies of states of the “same weight category.” Who else is in the first league of contenders for a global role in the world? Russia and China. Perhaps - India, but already in question. And, in fact, that’s all.

Formally, China has the largest army in the world - 2.2 million people. All men over 18 years of age are subject to conscription, but in a country of one and a half billion people there are many of them even for such an army. But there is plenty to choose from. And since, despite the progress of the last 30 years, a large part of the Chinese population still lives on a dollar a day, the army performs the functions described in points 1 and 2: the institution of socialization and social elevator. This probably explains its growth, contrary to previously announced intentions to reduce the armed forces.

The Indian Army is contract and voluntary. But the populations of India and China are approximately equal. And in social terms, India has the same problems of “bringing up” the level of part of the population to an acceptable level. So 1.4 million military personnel seems quite reasonable. It's still the same social elevators, but in a slightly different form.

And after India - ta-dam! - North Korea. An army of 1.2 million people with a service life of an average of 10 (!) years (from 5 to 12) and with universal conscription from 17. And right behind the DPRK is Russia with imperial ambitions and an army of 800,000.

Although the level of claims of the two countries is different, their armed forces perform the same social functions. These are huge slave camps, most of which are used as free labor. By herding young people into the army, they can, firstly, be kept under control, and secondly, instill in them views that exclude disobedience. Young people are psychologically unstable and lend themselves well to such training. And an even larger army, coupled with nuclear weapons, makes it possible to threaten the entire world, demanding “non-interference in internal affairs” and material assistance. The only difference is where the line of “internal affairs” is drawn.

Are the people and the army united?

Dictators love to talk about people's love for them. But will huge conscript armies that are poorly trained and have not really fought for 70 years be combat-ready? Historical experience gives a negative answer. Vivid examples of this kind: the defeat of the armies of Stalin in 1941 and Saddam Hussein in 2003. Stalin was saved by Lend-Lease - a contract with the United States for the supply of cannon fodder for the war with Hitler. Hussein had nothing to offer, and he was hanged as unnecessary. Both armies showed a complete reluctance to fight: the number of prisoners was an order of magnitude higher than the number of killed. The few units that retained the ability to resist fought ineffectively.

In a word, a crowd of poorly trained people, herded into an army, is capable, at best, of fighting the partisans - and even then, having an advantage of 50-100 times and unlimited rear resources. When faced with a real enemy comparable in scale, even one that is obviously weaker in terms of resources, but motivated and trained, it simply crumbles.

Such an army is not intended for a full-fledged war. She is an instrument of internal terror.

The thugs in power are well aware of its real capabilities and often bluff. The calculation is made at the high cost of human life in democratic states, which is why they are reluctant to get involved in a military conflict that threatens large losses of their citizens and, even more so, attacks on their territory. So nuclear weapons with a “long arm” - or at least the illusion of possessing them - sharply raises the military rating of dictatorial regimes. But nuclear weapons often turn out to be a bluff. Maintaining it in working condition requires technologies that are inaccessible to backward countries. Technological isolation quickly reduces blackmail to nothing. And if a dictator has a path to retreat, then when faced with a tough position, he always backs down - as, for example, demonstrated by the recent visit to Moscow of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The “effective” size of such armies comes down to the number of professional units, which in fact means a figure 15-20 times less than the officially declared one. But, as the experience of the war in Donbass and Syria shows, even these units, when faced with a determined enemy, fight poorly, with a C grade. Their element is bombing and shelling of civilians, and when they are confronted by people with weapons, they hang out. So don't blindly trust the ratings.

As for the “pure” army, intended solely for waging war and for nothing else, anonymous private military companies (PMCs) best cope with this role. It is not for nothing that they are increasingly taking on outsourcing functions during local and even not-so-local conflicts. Conventional army men are increasingly just posing for a TV picture with “our brave heroes.” This trend is typical for all countries - with the possible exception of the DPRK, and for armies of any type.

Far-reaching consequences

At the same time, one should not downplay the danger of dictatorial pseudo-armies.

In Stanislaw Lem's story "The Gargantian Trap," two pacifist designers, Trurl and Klapaucius, dismantled two warring armies by uniting the consciousness of their soldiers into a single whole. As a result, “instead of thousands of bombardiers and gunners, gunners and loaders, guardsmen and batteries, sappers, gendarmes, paratroopers, two gigantic consciousnesses arose, which looked at each other with millions of eyes across a large plain spread out under white clouds, and for a moment complete silence reigned. On both sides came the famous culmination of consciousness, predicted with mathematical precision by the great Gargantian. And the fact is that above a certain limit, any local state of war transformed into civilian clothes, because Space as such is absolutely civil, and the consciousnesses of both armies have already reached cosmic proportions! And although steel, armored shells, deadly cannonballs and blades sparkled outside, inside there was a double ocean of condescending complacency, all-encompassing benevolence and perfect reason."

The reality is not so serene. Social changes introduced into the consciousness of conscripts who have served affect the entire society for a long time. The “grandfathers who fought”, fooled by propaganda, are capable of producing several generations of disgusting offspring.

North Korea is a closed state, information about the standard of living there is strictly classified, and the rare tourists who were able to obtain 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 terms of 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 in North Korea, labor concentration camps are thriving and mass public executions are the norm.

The year 2017 will be remembered by the whole world for the threats of the DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, who stated that he was ready to strike nuclear attack(weapons of North Korean development) in 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 nuclear weapons with unknown power potential. 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 back in 1932. The ANPA was formed from Korean partisan units that fought against the Japanese occupiers in the territories of Manchuria.

Although this data has not been confirmed by anything, historians of the republic claim that troops of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) participated in all military operations in equal conditions with the Chinese revolutionary forces and without their participation. Of course, there were many Koreans among the Chinese partisans, but they could not be called an army.

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

If you believe the history of North Korea, then the KPRA troops took part in the battles against Japan, and the victory Soviet Union was the work of the KPRA Armed Forces. This point of view is supported only by residents of North Korea, and military documents of the USSR say that although Korean and Chinese partisans systematically prepared for military operations in 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 American zone occupation.

This 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, it was decided to attack southern part Korean Peninsula.

Before the start of the war, the strength of the Korean People's Army 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 thousand 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 leadership carried out in the DPRK army?

Full leadership of the DPRK Armed Forces is exercised by the Defense Committee, headed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, who is the marshal and chairman of the State Defense Committee. General base performs the functions of an advisory center, and the headquarters of the air force and naval forces solve immediate problems facing the People's Armed Forces (PAF) of North Korea.

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

  • Korean People's Army, which consists of various types of ground forces;
  • Air Force;
  • Naval forces, together with the forces special operations;
  • Army Ministry of Public Security;
  • Troops of the Ministry of State Security;
  • Red Guard of Workers and Peasants (Workers and Peasants);
  • Youth Red Guard;
  • People's and training groups.

North Korea has universal conscription, which was popular in all countries of the former USSR. The length of service in the DPRK army ranges from 3 to 12 years (depending on the type of military service).

Although information about 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 ​​what military power has modern army DPRK.

North Korean Ground Forces

The North Korean ground forces are the largest part of the Korean People's Army. Their total number is about 950 thousand people. The period of service in the ground forces is at least 5 years (maximum 12) and this is only conscript service. In the North Korean army, a large percentage of the 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 the huge accumulation of military equipment and military units, this area is distinguished by a huge concentration of various bunkers and tunnels, which most likely lead to the territory of South Korea.

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

North Korean Air Force

The DPRK Air Force is part of the Korean People's Army. As is the case with ground forces, the main combat units that make up the Korean aviation fleet are old models of airplanes and helicopters produced in the 50-70 years in the Soviet Union. This equipment was actively supplied to North Korea as part of military assistance. There are many Chinese-made planes and helicopters of later years. The main pride of the air force 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 in terms of the number of combat units air technology(according to unofficial data - about 1600 aircraft) is one of the leaders in the world, most of these aircraft and helicopters will not be able to conduct a full-fledged battle with modern fighters USA or Russia, since their resource has long been exhausted.

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

The helicopters at the disposal of the DPRK Air Force are represented by many machines (about 300 units) various types. The main pride among them is 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 not only have excellent health, but also be technically and mentally prepared.

North Korean Navy

The North Korean Navy is represented by two fleets:

  • East Sea Fleet, which is designed to operate in the Sea of ​​Japan;
  • Fleet western sea, intended for combat operations in the Korean Gulf and the Yellow Sea.

Total in composition navy There are between 45 and 60 thousand people serving in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (although these data are not exact). The term of conscription in the Navy ranges from 5 to 10 years. It should be especially noted that military service In North Korea, it is not only an honorable duty for every citizen, for which they prepare from childhood, but also the only way for villagers to escape poverty.

Pyongyang is home to the naval headquarters. The coast guard forces are considered a significant part of the entire North Korean navy. They are able to carry out the following combat operations:

  • Border protection in the coastal area;
  • 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 ground forces. This support should be expressed in operations to counter the South Korean fleet.

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

  • About 20 large Project 633 submarines;
  • 40 San-O submarines;
  • Yono class midget submarines.

Despite the fact that the DPRK's 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, as they perfectly demonstrated in 2010, when the Cheonan corvette, belonging to the South Korean fleet, was sunk. Although the DPRK denies any involvement in this 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 cargo ships are owned by the Navy.

DPRK Rocket Forces

According to the South Korean television and radio company KBS, the DPRK missile forces are armed with a complex of ballistic missiles consisting of three belts, placed taking into account their range. Management of this complex is entrusted to a new department called the Strategic Missile Command. KBS received this data from a certain secret document from the DPRK. It is not clear what kind of document this is and how it fell into the hands of representatives of the television and radio company. It is not known whether this information is correct, but it is a fact that with Kim Jong-un coming to power, missile forces became a priority.

The missile belts are arranged as follows:

  • The first line of defense missile belt is located near the border with South Korea. It includes short-range ballistic missiles. These missiles are analogues of Scud missiles, which were modernized by North Korean designers;
  • In the area of ​​the capital of North Korea there is a second belt of medium-range ballistic missiles. The Nodon modification missiles are located there;
  • The third belt of long-range ballistic missiles is located in the north of the state. In addition to the Taepodong 1.2 missiles, which have a range of 2 to 6.7 thousand kilometers, the DPRK is actively developing missile models that are capable of covering distances of up to 10-12 thousand kilometers, that is, they are quite capable of reaching the United States. 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 North Korea's arsenal is about 1,600, of which about 100 are intercontinental.

In addition to these missiles, multiple rocket launchers and artillery systems, with a total of about 5000 units.

In 2012, during the launch of the Gwangmyeonsong-3 satellite into orbit, the Unha-3 rocket was launched. While North Korean officials claim it was a space exploration program, the US and South Korea claim it was a test of a new generation ballistic missile.

North Korean special forces

The special forces of North Korea are called the DPRK Special Operations Forces. At their core, these troops are an analogue of special forces, and not the Soviet special forces, from which they were copied in the 60s, but the US special forces, which bears a similar 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 special forces. Due to the fact that North Korean special forces have only recently become unified system, then 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 reorganization new structure became almost a complete copy similar organization in USA. It includes 6 different bureaus that are responsible for specific tasks and are independent structures:

  • The first bureau is called the operational bureau. 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. The staff of this bureau numbers about 7,000 people;
  • The second bureau is the intelligence bureau. Its staff is the largest (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. North Korean spies (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 exactly 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 fight 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 provides support to the other bureaus and is called the Logistics Bureau. In addition to support (administrative and logical), it is engaged in interdepartmental coordination.

This division of the DPRK 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 launched a daring attack on the residence of the South Korean leader. To avoid being conspicuous, the special forces soldiers dressed in the uniform of 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 North Korean territory. Nothing is known about their further fate.

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

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

North Korea's air defense system

Although North Korea's air defense system is equipped with outdated systems and complexes, it is so rich that it boggles the imagination.

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

The industrial complex of the DPRK is capable of maintaining 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 repurposed for the production of military products. North Korea's latest developments in ballistic missile and nuclear technology are causing great concern to 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 actually is only at military parades that are held in the public domain.

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