Korean People's Army Ground Force

This article is about the North Korean army. For the North Korean armed forces, see Korean People's Army.
조선인민군 륙군
朝鮮人民軍 陸軍
Korean People's Army Ground Force

Founded August 20, 1947 (1947-08-20)
Country  North Korea
Allegiance Kim Jong-un[1]
Type Army
Size 950,000 active
Part of Korean People's Army
Equipment 5,500 tanks
2,200 infantry fighting vehicles
8,600 artillery pieces
4,800 multiple rocket launcher systems
Engagements Korean War
Syrian Civil War[2]
Commanders
Commander-in-chief General Ri Myong-su
Notable
commanders
Choi Yong-kun, Kim Chaek
Former flag

The Korean People's Army Ground Force (KPAGF; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선인민군 륙군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍 陸軍) is the main branch of the Korean People's Army responsible for land-based military operations. It is the de facto army of North Korea.

History

The Korean People's Army Ground Force was formed on August 20, 1947. It outnumbered and outgunned the South Korean Army on the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950. North Korean ground forces formations which fought in the Korean War included the I Corps, the II and III Corps. The IV Corps and V Corps, VI and VII Corps were formed after the outbreak of war. Divisions included the 105th Armored Division, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 19th, and 43rd Infantry Divisions. During the Korean War, it also contained a number of independent units such as the 766th Infantry Regiment.

In 1960, the KPAGF may have totaled fewer than 400,000 personnel and probably did not rise much above that figure before 1972. The force then massively expanded over the next two decades. In 1992, there were 950,000 personnel.[3] Before this expansion of the North Korean ground forces, the South Korean Army outnumbered the KPAGF. From the 1970s on, South Korea started exceeding North Korea in terms of economics. Thus, South Korea could modernize its forces, which in turn alerted North Korea and resulted in the expansion of the North Korean armed forces. Ironically, the weaker of the two Korea's has maintained the larger armed force. The size, organization, disposition, and combat capabilities of the Ground Force give Pyongyang military, albeit technologically inferior, possible options both for limited offensive operations to assault the lower half of the peninsula or for limited defensive operations against any perceived threat from South Korea.

Yossef Bodansky's Crisis in Korea, SP Books, 1994, gives an account of the North Korean order of battle in 1984-88 (p. 87-88).

Over time, this organization has adjusted to the unique circumstances of the military problem the KPA faces and to the evolution of North Korean military doctrine and thought.

In 1996 a significant portion of the staff, along with local government officials of the VI Corps was arrested and convicted of bribery and corruption.[4] The VI Corps HQ, which was in Chongjin, was in charge of military activities in the whole of North Hamgyong Province. It consisted of three infantry divisions, four rocket brigades and one artillery division. Joseph F. Bermudez reports in Shield of the Great Leader that the incident was not a coup, but it is often reported as such.[5] In any event, the corps was disbanded, and its units reallocated elsewhere, some to the IX Corps in North Hamgyong Province. The IX Corps now includes the 24th Division and the 42nd Division.

Current status

The overwhelming majority of active ground forces are deployed in three echelons — a forward operational echelon of four infantry corps; supported by a second operational echelon of two mechanized corps, the armor corps, and an artillery corps; and a strategic reserve of the two remaining mechanized corps and the other artillery corps.[6] These forces include the 806th and 815th Mechanized Corps and the 820th Armored Corps. These forces are garrisoned along major north-south lines of communication that provide rapid, easy access to avenues of approach into South Korea. The KPAGF has positioned massive numbers of artillery pieces, including some fakes, especially its longer-range systems, close to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two Korea's.

KPA soldiers at the DMZ

As of 2013, the US Department of Defense has reported the ground forces in number totals 950,000 in strength.[7]

Equipment

The Ground Forces have a mix of domestic and imported equipment in their inventory. Prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, most of these items were Soviet made and later, from China.

Main sources: (note that this source is known to be quite outdated), ,

The annual report of North Korea's military capabilities by the U.S. Department of Defense, released in early 2014, identified the North Korean Army's strength at 950,000 personnel, 4,200 tanks, 2,200 armored vehicles, 8,600 artillery guns, and over 4,800 multiple rocket launchers.[8]

Armor

Today's KPA arsenal includes a mix of Soviet and Chinese products and locally produced armored vehicles.

Name Type Quantity Origin Photo Notes
Tanks
T-34/85 Main battle tank ?  Soviet Union Still in use.
Type 59 Main battle tank 175[9][10]  People's Republic of China Some 2,000 T-55 and Type 59 tanks are thought to currently be in service.
T-55 Main battle tank 1,600[9]  Soviet Union Some 2000 T-55 and Type 59 Tanks are thought to currently be in service.
Can be equipped with spaced armor to defeat HEAT warheads.[11]
T-62M Main battle tank 800[9]  Soviet Union Capable of receiving later model Ch'onma-Ho upgrades.
Ch'ŏnma-ho Main battle tank ~1,000[9]  Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1,000 manufactured (as of the early 1990s).
P'okpung-ho Main battle tank ~500 in service as of 2010  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Locally designed main battle tank. Contains elements from T-62, T-72, Type 88, T-80 and T-90.
PT-76 Amphibious light tank 550  Soviet Union Some PT-76 are in reserve status.
Type 63 Amphibious light tank N/A  People's Republic of China [12]
PT-85 (Type-82) Amphibious light tank N/A  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Based on the VTT-323 APC chassis.
Armored Personnel Carriers & Infantry Fighting Vehicles
BMP-1 Infantry fighting vehicle 100  Soviet Union Designated as Korshun.
BTR-152 Armored personnel carrier N/A  Soviet Union
BTR-50P Armored personnel carrier N/A  Soviet Union
BTR-60PB Armored personnel carrier 1,000[9]  Soviet Union First ordered in 1966.
BTR-80A Armored personnel carrier 35[9]  Soviet Union
Type 55 Armored personnel carrier N/A  People's Republic of China
Type 63 APC Armored personnel carrier 500[9]  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Variant VTT-323 based on Chinese A531.
M1992 Armored personnel carrier N/A  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Locally designed APC based on the BRDM-2.[13] Armed with an AGS-17 grenade launcher and a 9K111 Fagot ATGM.
VTT-323 (M-1973) Armored personnel carrier 3200  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Based on the YW-531.
M-2010 Armored personnel carrier 3200  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Based on the VTT-323 but with longer chassis and improved optics.

Vehicles

Name Type In Service Notes
Transportation and logistics
Mercedes G-Class Utility vehicle Seen during the funeral of Kim Jong-il[14]
Thairung TR MUV4 Utility vehicle
Ford Bronco Utility vehicle
UAZ-3151 Utility vehicle
ZIL-130 General-purpose truck
Iveco Eurocargo General-purpose truck
Ural-4320 General-purpose truck
ZIL-131 Container semi-trailer truck
Dongfeng 6x6 Camp mobile dining car
MAZ-7310 Missile system carrier
WS-51200 TEL Transporter erector launcher platform 10

Artillery

The KPA-GF artillery pool include both imports and locally produced guns.

Name Type In Service Notes
Howitzers
M-1985 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20/M1955; Type 83
M-1981 122 mm self-propelled gun Type 54 SPH
M-1978 170 mm SP gun-howitzer Largest caliber howitzer in KPA service
M-1975 130 mm self-propelled gun
M-1974 152 mm SP gun-howitzer
M-1992 130 mm self-propelled gun
M-1991 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
M-1992 120 mm self-propelled combination gun
SU-100 100 mm SP assault gun
Mortars
mortars various ? North Korea is known to have some 10,000 mortars of different types and origin in its inventory
Rocket Artillery
Type 63 107 mm multiple rocket launcher 4,000 delivered between 1964-1990
M-1985 122 mm multiple rocket launcher
M-1993 122 mm multiple rocket launcher
BM-11 122 mm multiple rocket launcher
BMD-20 200 mm multiple rocket launcher 200 delivered in mid-1950s[15]
BM-24 240 mm multiple rocket launcher 500 delivered in 1955
M1985/M1991 240 mm rocket launcher Estimated 200+ in service between both models[16][17] Range estimates of 30–43–60–70 km (19–27–37–43 mi)[18][19]
KN-09 300 mm rocket launcher [20]

Weapons

Anti-tank weapons

Name
Man-portable anti-tank
RPG-2
RPG-7 (Local production)
Type 69 RPG Chinese rocket-propelled grenade
RPO-A (Local production?)
ATGMs
AT-1 Snapper
AT-2 Swatter
AT-3 Sagger
AT-4 Spigot
AT-5 Spandrel
Recoilless Rifles
B-10 recoilless rifle
B-11 recoilless rifle
SPG-9
Self-propelled ATGMs
Type 85 Susang

Anti-aircraft weapons

Name
MANPADS
SA-7 MANPADS (Locally produced)
SA-14 MANPADS (Locally produced)
SA-16 MANPADS (Locally produced)
Anti-aircraft artillery
ZPU-4
ZU-23-2
M1939
ZSU-57-2
ZSU-23-4
M1984 14.5mm (Locally produced)
M1985 57mm (Locally produced)
M1992 30mm (Locally produced)
M1992 37mm (Locally produced)

Small arms

In South Korea, many of North Korean small arms are showcased in many war museums, such as War Memorial of Korea, tourist sites of North Korean infiltration tunnels, or for the purpose of inspiring patriotism to citizens. The Korean Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC) displays North Korean equipment (most of them used by Special Forces) on an exhibition van in various military-related events place such as military units or public establishments.[21]

Name Country of origin Notes
Semi-automatic pistols
Type 64  Soviet Union /  North Korea Unlicensed copy
Type 66  Soviet Union /  North Korea Indigenous copy
Type 68  Soviet Union /  North Korea Indigenous copy
Type 70  North Korea Self-designed and produced; chambered in .32 ACP
BaekDuSan  Czechoslovakia /  North Korea Issued to high-ranking officers, pilots, and special force members
Norinco NZ-75  PRC /  North Korea
FN Baby Browning  Belgium Issued to spies
CZ 82  Czech Republic Issued to senior officers
Inglis Hi-Power  Canada Issued to spies and special force members
Ruger P-Series  United States
M1911 pistol  United States Issued to Kim Jong-un's bodyguards
Sub-machine guns
PPS-43  Soviet Union /  PRC Both Soviet PPS submachine guns and Chinese Type 54s
M3  United States
M56  SFR Yugoslavia
Shotguns
KS-23  Soviet Union
Assault rifles
Type 56  PRC
Norinco CQ  PRC  PRK Limited use, issued to special force members
M16A1  United States Limited use, unlicensed locally made copies, issued to special force members
Type 58  North Korea Standard issue of KPA reserve forces
Type 68  Soviet Union /  North Korea Standard issue among North Korean infantry and being slowly supplanted by the Type 88 or 98
Type 98  North Korea Slowly supplanting the Type 68 as the future standard issue rifle of the KPA
Sniper rifles
Dragunov SVD  Soviet Union
PSL  Romania
Zastava M76  Yugoslavia
Light machine guns
RPK  Soviet Union Manufactured as Type 64
PKM  Soviet Union
RPD  North Korea
Type 73  North Korea Indigenous design based on the Vz. 52 machine gun and the Kalashnikov PK machine gun design
Nikonov machine gun  Soviet Union
RP-46  Soviet Union
Heavy machine guns
DShKM  Soviet Union  North Korea Standard issue
KPV  Soviet Union
Grenade launchers
GP-25  Soviet Union  North Korea
AGS-17  Soviet Union  North Korea

Retired small arms

(Some probably kept in storage for Worker-Peasant Red Guards units)

Ranks and uniforms

Ranks

Korean People's Army Ground Forces has six categories of ranks; marshals, general officers, senior officers, junior officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and soldiers.

Enlisted

NCOsSoldiers
Ranks in Korean T'ŭkmu-sangsa
특무상사
Sangsa
상사
Chungsa
중사
Hasa
하사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
상급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
중급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
하급병사
Chŏnsa
전사
Ranks Chief Master SergeantStaff SergeantSergeantJunior SergeantCorporal First ClassCorporalLance corporalPrivate

Officers

GeneralsOfficers
Ranks in Korean Taejang
대장
Sangjang
상장
Chungjang
중장
Sojang
소장
Taejwa
대좌
Sangjwa
상좌
Chungjwa
중좌
Sojwa
소좌
Taewi
대위
Sangwi
상위
Chungwi
중위
Sowi
소위
Ranks General of the ArmyColonel GeneralLieutenant GeneralMajor GeneralSenior ColonelColonelLieutenant ColonelMajorCaptainSenior LieutenantLieutenantJunior Lieutenant

Marshals

The Vice Marshal rank was created for a combined political-military position.

The Marshal of the KPA rank was created for a combined honorary promotion of political-military position.

Supreme commanders ranks are Marshal of the DPRK and Generalissimo.

Supreme commandersMarshals
Ranks in Korean Tae wonsu
대원수
Konghwaguk Wonsu
공화국원수
Wonsu
원수
Ch'asu
차수
Ranks GeneralissimoMarshal of the DPRKMarshal of the KPAVice Marshal

Uniform

KPA officers and soldiers are most often seen wearing a mix of olive green or tan uniforms. The basic dress uniform consists of a tunic and pants (white tunics for general officers in special occasions); female soldiers wear knee length skirts but can sometimes wear pants.

Caps or peaked caps, especially for officers (and sometimes berets for women) are worn in spring and summer months and a Russian style fur hat (the Ushanka hats) in winter. A variant of the Disruptive Pattern Material, the Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform (green), the ERDL pattern, the M81 Woodland and the Tigerstripe is also being worn by a few and rare images of North Korean army officers and service personnel. In Non-Dress uniforms a steel helmet (Soviet SSh68 combat helmet) seems to be the most common headgear, and is sometimes worn with a camouflage covering.

Standard military boots are worn for combat, women wear low heel shoes or heel boots for formal parades.

Camouflage uniforms are slowly becoming more common in the KPA. During the April 15, 2012 parade, Kevlar helmets were displayed in certain KPA units.

See also

References

  1. https://www.enca.com/world/north-korean-military-takes-oath-loyalty
  2. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/03/485_201090.html
  3. Federation of American Scientists, Korean Peoples' Army, accessed February 2008
  4. Joseph F. Bermudez, Shield of the Great Leader, 2001, 59.
  5. http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=7321&cataId=nk02100
  6. Hodge, Homer T., "North Korea's Military Strategy", Hodge: 2003.
  7. "MILITARY AND SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA". http://www.defense.gov/pubs/North_Korea_Military_Power_Report_2013-2014.pdf. External link in |website= (help);
  8. http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/North_Korea_Military_Power_Report_2013-2014.pdf
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "SIPRI arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  10. Christopher F Foss. Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005-2006.
  11. KPA Journal Vol. 2, No. 12 - December 2013
  12. North Korean Army Tanks, Vehicles and Artillery Since 1950. Military Factory. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  13. M1992 - Military-Today.com
  14. IBtimes.com "Kim Jong-il's Funeral Held in N. Korea"
  15. BMD-20 - Military-Today.com
  16. The North Korean M1985 MLRS & M1991 MLRS - Tanknutdave.com
  17. M1985 - Military-Today.com
  18. M-1991 240mm Juche 100 MRLS Multiple Rocket launcher System - Armyrecognition.com
  19. North Korea deploys new 240mm artillery rocket launcher systems along border with South Korea - Armyrecognition.com, 30 June 2013
  20. The threat of North Korea’s new rocket artillery - NKnews.org, 13 March 2014
  21. "N. Korean special operation forces infiltration van showcased for 19th ESC senior leader development". DVIDS - Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System. 4 Aug 2014.

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