The size of the Korean army on. Juche fury: how the DPRK is going to fight with the United States

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

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

Information problem

The army of North Korea is fully classified, like the country itself. All information about the number of servicemen and available equipment is quite approximate. As a rule, these data are 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 practically 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 past 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 military structure North Korea, known as the Korean People's Army, is one of the most powerful on the planet. Disciplined, having been in a pre-war situation for decades, having a clear structure corresponding to modern realities, it can turn out to be a tough nut to crack even for leaders such as the United States, China or Russia.

Even comparing the armies of North and South Korea shows how strong the armed forces of the DPRK are.

Ideology

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

The leading ideological appeals of the DPRK are the Juche idea. 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, and in short and literary - "reliance on own forces". North Korean ideology in the DPRK and to some extent in the USSR was considered the ideas of Marxism-Leninism in combination with Asian philosophy.

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

The term "Songun", meaning "everything for the army", is a practical aid to Juche. He defines the KPA as the leading force in all state concerns and in the division of national wealth. “The army is in the lead” is the main thesis of the top leadership of North Korea, which in everything corresponds to:

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

Songun singles out the armed forces in the country as a structure with state functions, which occupies a leading position in the state. According to the ruling elite, the army in North Korea is the "Great Repository of Power".

population

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. Thus, 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 people, however, give it fifth) on the planet in terms of its number. 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 has 4.7 million soldiers and officers, mobre resources - 6.2 million soldiers and officers, and about 10 million soldiers and officers fit for army service. And this is with a population of North Korea of ​​almost 25 million people. Thus, about half of the 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 current year. Korea threatened to launch ballistic missiles, China and Russia called on the leaders of states for a peaceful dialogue and solving problems only in verbal form. Together with South Korea, it was proposed to develop a common concept for further actions. While the conflict is in a sluggish phase, but that's not the point. In a few days of tension, more than 3.5 million people have voluntarily signed up for the North Korean army - this is not counting those who are already in the ranks of the army. "In the face of the enemy," the North Koreans are ready to rally and fight.

conscription

The country has a system of mandatory conscription by which all residents must serve. The draft age is 17 years. To deviate from the service is still almost impossible. How many serve in the military in North Korea? Service time in general is 5-12 years, which is radically different from other countries.

The women's issue is solved differently in the army. Until recently, the fair sex could only serve as volunteers. The time of their service until 2003 was 10 years, then - 7. But at present there is evidence that women will also be required to undergo compulsory military service. Women will serve until the age of 23.

It is this policy that leads to a large proportion of those liable for military service. Moreover, a 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 branches of service 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 obliged 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 after the first. It combines infantry and mobile formations. Its activities are directly dependent on the current situation. If the DPRK starts hostilities, then the troops of the second line will begin to advance deep into the enemy's defenses, up to entering Seoul. When their country is attacked, the second line is obliged to eliminate enemy breakthroughs with counterattacks.

The goal of the third frontier is to protect the capital of the country. In addition, it will be a training and reserve base for the first two frontiers.

The last frontier is on the border with neighboring states. It belongs to the training reserve units. It is also called the "echelon of last resort".

The structure of the army was clearly copied from the Soviet one. This is 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

Ground Forces of North Korea recent times, according to some sources, reach the number of a little more than 1 million military personnel. 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 more than 1,000 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. The big disadvantage of North Korean air defense is the prevalence of obsolete systems.

Naval Forces

The structure of the naval forces of North Korea includes two formations: the Eastern and Western fleets. The ships are mainly intended for combat operations in the 50-kilometer coastal strip.

Modest tasks also led to a small composition of associations - a little more than 60 thousand people. In total, the Navy has about 650 ships, but all warships are small in size - boats and more than 100 submarines.

Coastal defense consists of anti-ship missile installations and nearly 300 guns.

North Korean Special Operations Forces

Now in any armed forces there is a military special forces. In the army of North Korea, the number of special forces, according to various sources, reaches about 100 thousand people (and maybe more). Like any other special forces, these troops are fighting behind enemy lines, counteracting enemy reconnaissance, and so on.

Special Forces combine light infantry, reconnaissance and sniper units.

The special forces are managed by two main structures of the Ministry of People's armed forces DPRK: Directorate of Special Forces Command and Intelligence Directorate.

Armaments production

The parade of the armed forces in this country is a truly vivid 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 military industry of the country makes it possible to produce an annual number of weapons and equipment in the amount of 200 thousand machine guns, 3 thousand artillery systems, several hundred tanks and other types military equipment. In addition, the country is producing various types of naval vessels.

In the DPRK, there are 17 enterprises for the production of 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, part civil enterprises can be quickly and at low financial cost re-equipped for the production of a military nomenclature. More than 180 defense factories operate underground in mountainous areas.

The production of missile systems by the DPRK allows not only to fully supply its army with ground-to-ground missiles, but also to export them to other countries. at a fast pace work is underway 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

In service with North Korea are:

1. "Hwaseong-11". Single-stage solid propellant rocket. On combat duty since 2007, North Korea began production of an analogue of the Tochka-U missile system in 2005. The distance is 100-120 km. Equipment is transported on a maneuverable SPU based on the chassis of a three-axle off-road 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 SPU.
3. "Hwaseong-6". Flight to a distance of 700 km. Also a "home" development of the DPRK. On combat duty since 1990. Now several hundred copies are in service. It is located on a maneuverable four-axle SPU.
4. "Hwaseong-7". On combat duty since 1997. Able to fly 1000-1300 km. It is located on a maneuverable 5-axle SPU.
5. "No-Dong-2". On combat duty since 2004. Flight up to 2000 km. It is located on a maneuverable 6-axle SPU.
6. "Hwaseong-10". It is located on a maneuverable six-axle SPU.
7. "Hwaseong-13". Demonstrated at a 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 SPU.

The main disadvantages of KPA

The armed forces of the DPRK can instill fear in a large number of states. However, the North Korean army has many shortcomings. Negative sides KPA:

• a small amount of fuel makes it possible to carry out large-scale fighting for a period not exceeding 30 days;
• prolonged 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 firing;
• an attack from the sea is repulsed by outdated weapons, and the ships as a whole are not distinguished by autonomy and maneuverability;
• there are no newest air forces, air defense equipment, and the existing equipment makes it possible to repel an enemy attack for only a few days.

With 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 rule out 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 have common borders with North Korea, i.e. China, South Korea and Russia.

It is possible to feel the real effectiveness of the army of this state only under conditions real war but that's what the whole world is afraid of. Not a single country, including the United States, wants to openly enter into conflict with the leadership of the DPRK.

website – Military service in South Korea is mandatory for all men over 18 years old, its term, depending on the type of troops, ranges from 21 to 24 months. There is also an alternative civil service, the duration of which can be up to 3 years.
In South Korea, unauthorized evasion of military duties is of a particularly sensitive (and also criminal) nature. The employer may refuse you, arguing that you "hooked" from the army, therefore, you are an undisciplined worker and a malicious violator of the law.

Even high-ranking politicians do not escape punishment when it becomes known that they or their sons did not properly repay their debt to their homeland. Celebrity attempts to evade the army are also severely suppressed.

But while ordinary South Korean citizens, with a gnashing of anger in their teeth, go to serve in the army, breaking away from school or work, this is a real test for pop stars. Now the trends in the entertainment industry are changing at an incredible speed, with more and more stars debuting every year. There is no guarantee for an actor that after 22 months of service, their popularity or fan base will remain the same. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the attempts of celebrities to "slope" from the army in an illegal way, criminal cases were even initiated against many.

A prime example is Yoo Seung Joon (Steve Yoo), a well-known Korean-American male model who was on the covers of glossy magazines at the time. Trying to evade the army, he became an American citizen in 2002. After this incident, his popularity began to wane, and when public discontent got out of control, the South Korean government nevertheless decided to take matters into their own hands. As a result, the court imposed a ban on his performances and any activity in the field of show business in the country. After more than 11 years, the punishment is still in effect.

It did not become easier for show business stars to endure all the hardships of service, even when in 1997 the South Korean Armed Forces created a special unit for male pop stars - the "Army Media Agency" (DMA), where they, after several months of passing the initial military training, were engaged in their usual business - composing music for army television and radio programs.

At the end of June 2013, the DMA came under fire for several egregious violations of the rules committed by celebrity soldiers, such as: drinking alcohol and using mobile phones on the territory of the military unit, they also note unauthorized departures from the unit, after which the soldiers were seen walking around the nearby city.

Notoriety did not bypass the notorious person of the Korean stage - (Jeong Ji Hoon, Rain; 정지훈), when he was seen on a date with a young actress without a legally issued leave. Be that as it may, the singer was recently demobilized quite calmly, without any sanctions.

Recently, the South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that due to inefficiency and low level Discipline disbands a special military unit in which pop stars served in the military. The ministry conducted an audit of the DMA's work and eventually stated that "according to its results, we accept responsibility for the poor discipline in the DMA and disband this unit." At the same time, 8 DMA military personnel will be subject to disciplinary measures for violation of the charter, and three of them will be subjected to "serious punishments."

Elizaveta Petrovskaya - music columnist of the portal, based on the materials of the Korean press

Each state has only two allies - this is its army and navy. A phrase spoken by one of Russian tsars in the 19th century and still relevant today. It's just that with the development of technology, aviation and missile forces have been added to the usual branches of the military.

The DPRK army is the 4th largest in the world.

North Korea is no different in this regard. sovereign states. Moreover, according to the estimates of the relevant departments, the armed forces of the DPRK are the Army, the 4th largest in the world. Which forces not only neighbors, but also distant states to reckon with the DPRK.

However, the size of the DPRK army is easily leveled by its technical equipment and training. And if the KPA is all right with the latter, then the equipment that the Armed Forces of North Korea have, to put it mildly, does not shine. For example, tank brigades consist of T-55s and T-62s. Cars from the early 1960s. Needless to say, these machines were already obsolete in the 1970s.

The DPRK army does not shine with military equipment.

True, this state of affairs does not prevent the KPA from conducting regular exercises near the borders of its neighbor, South Korea.

The DPRK army received a particularly strong impetus after the end of civil war on the Korean Peninsula (1950 - 1953). This conflict is considered the most destructive in the second half of the 20th century.

As a result of 3 years of fierce battles, losses on both sides reached several million people. Received critical damage to 80% of the entire infrastructure of the peninsula, transport and industrial.

The political outcome of the war was the final division of the Korean people and the peninsula into two equal countries - the DPRK and the ROK. The border between states is a demilitarized zone.

When was the armed forces of the DPRK formed?

The official date of the formation of the DPRK Armed Forces is July 27, 1953. Serious military groupings are deployed on both sides, receiver and rocket artillery, provocations are constantly taking place and propaganda activities are being carried out.

1953 is the official date of the formation of the DPRK Armed Forces

Officially, the war between North Korea and the Kyrgyz Republic ended in 1991. However, in fact, nothing has changed. We can say that the situation has worsened. The Soviet Union collapsed. The Warsaw Pact countries passed under the banner of NATO or were destroyed.

Seeing the example of Yugoslavia, the leader of the North Korean people, Kim Jong-un, authorized the development of the nuclear program of the DPRK, whose armed forces needed to be strengthened against a possible attack from the capitalist countries. This led to tougher sanctions against them.

Permanent sanctions have led to the bleeding of the economy of one of the last communist countries in the world. Only 5 billion dollars are allocated for military needs. Which is too little. Especially glancing at the ASP budget (Almost 1 trillion dollars). It is on this note that it is worth moving on to the history of the formation of the KPA.

History of the Korean People's Army

In spite of for a long time existence, the history of the KPA is poorly eventful. The figures below are rejected by a number of historians, but they are considered official in North Korea itself.

The very beginning

Korea was one of the first countries invaded by Imperial Japan. Most of the country was occupied. The Japanese killed the entire political and military elite.

The policy pursued by the IA on the peninsula most of all resembled assimilation. The cultural layer was gradually destroyed. Instead of Korean, Japanese was taught in schools. Subsequently, this greatly influenced the self-consciousness of the Korean people and led to a split into two countries. But not all people accepted such currents.

Part of the population was active in partisan activities.

In 1932, several detachments united under a single command. One of the young commanders was Kim Il Sung. The group acted with varying success. Operations were carried out on the territory of North Korea, Manchuria and China. The Japanese severely punished the captured partisans, and closer to the middle of the Second World War, the ANPA members had to retreat beyond the Soviet border.

After the end of WWII, Korea was divided into two equal parts, North and South. Each zone was controlled external forces. Above - the USSR, below - the USA. Even then, an invisible confrontation between the two powers began, subsequently dividing the world into 2 camps.

North Korea, whose army was under the patronage of the Soviet Union, turned into a powerful communist state. Kii Il Sung, who was personally acquainted with Stalin and Comrade Mao, was appointed head of the Korean People's Democratic Republic.

The state needed its own armed forces. The North Korean army (weapons and personnel) initially began to be formed from volunteer detachments. Weapons and equipment were supplied from the USSR and China.

By the time the Korean War began, the total strength of the KPA troops was 185,000. In addition to the ground units, the naval and air forces of the DPRK appeared. In addition to the regular army, there were squads capable of standing under the bayonet at any time.

The command was carried out by the Headquarters. In order to improve military training, officer schools were organized.

Korean People's Army in the 1950 War

June 25, 1950 began one of the bloodiest conflicts of the second half of the last century. The KPA invaded the territory of the Republic of Korea and occupied Seoul without much resistance. Within a few weeks, most of the southern neighbor was under the control of North Korean troops. The remnants of South Korean troops retreated to the Pusan ​​Perimeter. It seemed that this was the last line in the history of the Kyrgyz Republic.

However, South Korea had a powerful ally - the United States. AT short time an American fleet approached the peninsula, located near occupied Japan. The KPA attack choked. The vector of hostilities has changed. The army of the DPRK, whose armament consisted of small arms and light artillery, retreated, suffering losses in manpower and equipment. The advantage of the USA in the air affected.

The combined troops of Americans and Republicans soon began to approach Pyongyang. The situation with the Busan perimeter was repeated. But China and the USSR came to the aid of Kim Il Sung. Chinese infantry corps were able to delay the advancing capitalists. This made it possible to draw up reserves and reorganize the KPA.

The presence of the USSR was unofficial. Assistance was provided in the bulk of the supply of weapons and equipment. In addition, aircraft piloted by Soviet pilots actively participated in air battles. This fact gave rise to jokes about Korean pilots Lee Si Tsynov.

In 1952 the front stabilized. No one could break through the enemy defenses. A positional confrontation began. Moreover, oddly enough, the front line passed along the old border at the 38th parallel.

On July 27, the “hot” stage of the conflict on the Korean Peninsula ended. An agreement was signed on the creation of a demilitarized zone. The reason for the end of the war, in addition to the depletion of human resources and the complete destruction of infrastructure, is the death of Joseph Stalin. After the death of the leader of the USSR, the command decided to withdraw from the conflict. Seeing this, China did not stand alone against the Americans and provoked the signing of a peace treaty.

And although the fighting stopped, clashes broke out more than once on the new border. The Cold War with South Korea continues. True, there were moments of building relationships.

For example, after the official end of the Korean War in 1991, economic and political ties began to improve. Appeared limited opportunity cross the demilitarized zone.

The idyll did not last long. The Soviet Union collapsed. The Americans felt impunity. Pro-communist regimes began to fall Eastern Europe and South America. The United States has not forgotten about the DPRK either.

The country was subject to sanctions. The main reason is the development of nuclear weapons by the DPRK. Moreover, Kim Jong Yr tried to establish a dialogue with the "carriers" of democracy, but stumbled upon a blank wall.

Weapons of the DPRK and the development of a nuclear shield

Seeing that the American side was unwilling to engage in dialogue and resolve all issues through diplomacy, Kim Jong Yr accelerated the development of the DPRK's nuclear program.

The process of building their own nuclear bomb continued despite increasingly severe economic restrictions and trade bans.

Even in such a situation, the DPRK government tried to negotiate with opponents. At the beginning of the 2000s, they even managed to conclude a pact on the denuclearization of the peninsula. The Korean side stops the development of nuclear weapons. The answer is to lift the sanctions. For a while everything went well. Restrictions have been lifted.

this year, the DPRK withdrew from the international treaty on nuclear disarmament and containment

The economy began to grow, and with it the Korean People's Army. However, in less than a few years, the US again imposed a ban. This was the reason for the withdrawal of the DPRK in 2013 from the international treaty on nuclear disarmament and deterrence. Work on weapons continued.

Since 1990 Pyongyang has repeatedly tested its nuclear device. Of course, nuclear weapon North Korea is not perfect and is inferior in power to that of the United States or Russia. But an atom remains an atom. Tension in the region is constantly growing. In addition to warheads, launch vehicles are being tested. The latter are capable of carrying a warhead at a distance of up to 3,500 km.

2016 was marked by elections in the United States, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were rushing to power. The last one won. One of the campaign promises was to resolve the Korean crisis.

In 2017 once aircraft carrier fleets began to conduct exercises near North Korean territory. However, things did not go further than maneuvers. Despite increased missile testing and Trump-Kim squabbles on Twitter.

In 2017 The winter sports team was invited to participate in the 2018 Olympics. winter views sports in the NC are not strongly developed, so there was a temporary unification of the Korean people under a single flag. Possession of a nuclear arsenal gives its "gesheft".

Organizational structure of the North Korean Armed Forces

The main governing body of the KPA is the GKO (Civil Defense Committee). All other parts rise into its composition: the Navy, the Armed Forces, the Navy, rocket troops, people's militias etc. Marshal Kim Jong-un presides over the GKO. He is also the Supreme Commander of the North Korean Armed Forces, capable of declaring mobilization and martial law.

Structurally, the waxes of North Korea consist of:

Symbolism	Type of army	North Korea, Army, weapons, purpose	Army of the DPRK, strength, thousand
		The main combat unit of the KPA. Designed for land operations. 70% of the composition is located along the border with the Kyrgyz Republic	1 020
	Navy	Designed to protect the sea borders of the DPRK and support ground units. Also responsible for coastal defense and amphibious operations.	48
	Air Force	The structure includes fighter, attack, bomber and transport aircraft. The KPA Air Force is equipped with Soviet and Chinese aircraft of the 70s - 80s	110
Images are not publicly available	Special Operations Forces	Designed for reconnaissance and sabotage operations	10

Other armed formations:

• connections of the Ministry of Public Security;
• law enforcement agencies of the Ministry of State Security;
• militia Workers 'and Peasants' Red Guard;
• youth Red Guard;
• other squads.

The total number of regular waxers is approaching 1.2 million. Moreover, most of the armed forces are concentrated near the southern border. If necessary, another 4 million people can be mobilized. However, in the extreme case, the entire combat-ready contingent is drafted into the army. According to rough estimates - 10 million. The figure is impressive, given that 24 million people live in the DPRK in total.

Armament of the DPRK

North Korea has an excellent military-industrial complex. The lion's share of the country's budget is invested in this industry. The industry is capable of producing any kind of necessary equipment and equipment, except for military aircraft. Cycle production processes completely closed and does not depend on external supplies.

The problem with the North Korean economy is a total embargo.

The DPRK does not have its own sources of gas and oil.

So you have to buy from neighbors. Mainly in China.

Contrary to public opinion North Korea is not a closed country. Tourists often come there, and residents of the state periodically work in Chinese factories and just travel.

Ground Forces of North Korea

The total strength of the ground forces is 1.02 million people. For the most part, soldiers are conscripts, drafted into the army at the age of 17. The duration of service varies - 5-12 years. The group consists of 20 corps: 12 infantry, 2 artillery, capital defense corps, 4 armored and motorized.

The KPA ground forces have a large number of cannon and rocket artillery. For the most part, all troops are stationed along the border with the Kyrgyz Republic. Moreover, part can fire at Seoul and its suburbs.

The weapons used by the ground forces of the DPRK:

	M1978 "Koksan"	170-mm self-propelled artillery mount developed on the chassis Soviet tank T-62 or T-55
	BM-14	MLRS 100 mm mount
	BM-21 Grad	MLRS 120 mm mount
	BM-11	Independent Korean development based on Grad
	M-1992	Further development of the BM-11
	VTT-323	MLRS mounted on tracked chassis
	M-1985	System salvo fire, caliber 240 mm
	M-240	240 mm rocket launcher
	“Competition”, “Baby”, “Bassoon”	Anti-tank guided missiles
	T-54/55 and Type 59	Soviet medium tanks, with a 100 mm gun. (The last one is Chinese license)
	T-62	Almost OBT. Equipped with a 115 mm smoothbore gun
	PT-76	Soviet light amphibious tank
	Type 62/63	Lightweight version of the Type 59
	"Cheongmaho"	Korean modernization of the T-62
	“Pokphunho”	T-72, produced in the DPRK. Obtained as a result of reverse engineering. In terms of its parameters, it approaches the early T-90s.
	BTR-60, BTR-70, BTR-80, etc.	Armored personnel carriers
	OTR “Moon”	Soviet-made operational-tactical missile system
	TR R-17	OTRK equipped with R-17 missile

Despite the hype fanned around the DPRK, the ground units of the KPA are intended to defend the country's borders. Most of the ground forces are deployed near the 38th parallel and are artillery. In general, long-term firing positions, bunkers, trenches and other fortifications have been built along the entire demilitarized zone, from the side of the UK.

Navy

The KPA fleet is divided into Eastern and Western. Each includes warships of different classes, submarines, cargo and landing craft. The main task of the Navy is protection state borders and assistance to ground forces conducting ground operations. At the same time, the transfer of the fleet from western sea to the east and back is impossible due to geographical features.

The fleet is equipped with the following ships:

	"Nagin", "Soho"	Corvettes
	Project 613	Submarine, Soviet-made
	Project 633	Soviet and Chinese submarines
	sang-oh	Small submarines
	Project 205 “Wasp”	missile boat
	"Hante"	Small landing craft capable of carrying tanks

One of the main doctrines of the DPRK fleet is the application missile strikes from small boats. This "mosquito" fleet tactic is used by many budget-constrained countries. Unlike land units, service lasts 5-10 years.

Air Force

The military aviation of the DPRK is deployed at 70 airfields . The main part of the sites is built around the capital. This provides cover for the city from enemy aircraft raids. In service there are helicopters, Soviet-Chinese production and captured ones captured during the Korean War.

Equipment used by the KPA Air Force:

Photo	Name	Type of	Quantity
	MiG-29	Interceptors	35
	MiG-23		56
	MiG-21 / Chengdu J-7	Fighters	150
	MiG-19 / Shenyang F-6		100
	MiG-17	Combat training	242
	MiG-15	Training	35
	CJ-6		180
	Su-7	Stormtroopers-bombers. Often used as training.	16
	Su-25		36
	Q-5		190
	IL-28	frontline bomber	80
	An-2, An-24, An-148, Tu-204, Il-62	Transport aircraft of different tonnage	Up to 20 (An-2 - 200 pieces)
	MD-500	Multipurpose helicopter	84
	Mi-2		139
	Mi-24D	attack helicopter	20
	Mi-4, Mi-8	Transport helicopters	48, 15
	Tu-143	UAV	1
	Pchela-1T		10

Air defense forces of the DPRK

Photo	Name	Quantity	Production
Anti-aircraft missile systems
	S-75	SAM	USSR
	S-125
	S-200
	Strela-10
	A circle
	KN-06/S-300		North Korea
	Beech		USSR, Russia
Portable anti-aircraft missile system
	Needle	MANPADS	SSSP

Strategic and tactical missile forces

North Korea has successfully mastered the production of missiles of various classes. The production cycle is completely carried out by the military-industrial complex of North Korea. The first variants of missiles were developed with an eye on Soviet projects.

In the future, part of the developments was bought from Ukraine (according to rumors). Ballistic intercontinental missiles capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.

Missile types:

A photo	Name	Range, km	Classification	Year of adoption
	Hwaseong-5	320	TBRMD	1985
	Hwaseong-6	700	TRKMD	1990
	Hwaseong-7	1000 – 1300	IRBM	1997
	No-Dong-2	2000	IRBM	2004
	Hwaseong-10	4000	IRBM	2009
	Hwaseong-13	7500	ICBM	2017
	Hwaseong-11	120	TBRMD	2007

• TBRMD - Tactical short-range ballistic missile.
• IRBM is a medium-range ballistic missile.
• ICBM - intercontinental ballistic missile.

Nuclear forces of the DPRK

The development of nuclear weapons started in 1990. This is evidenced by the memorandum of the Chairman of the KGB of the USSR Vladimir Kryuchkov. The paper talked about the successful development of the atomic bomb and plans to test the device.

The nuclear program was developed at a research institute near the city of Yongbyon. Presumably, analogues of Pakistani P-2 centrifuges were used for uranium enrichment. This made it possible to increase the production of weapons-grade uranium up to 60 kg per year.

• In 2013 passed the third test of a nuclear bomb with a capacity of up to 10 kilotons. According to experts at that time, the DPRK already had up to 15 combat devices and carriers for them.
• January 6, 2016 the 4th trial took place. According to official sources, the power of the detonated charge was equivalent to a hydrogen bomb. Another wave of panic swept through the world. Especially among the population of nearby countries.
• September 9, 2016 carried out the 5th test. The main goal is an attempt to stop the US and ROK military exercises. As well as the elimination of the American military base in South Korea.

Ranks of the KPA

Marshals

• Generalissimo;
• Marshal of the DPRK;
• Marshal of the KPA;
• Vice Marshal.

Generality

Senior officers

junior officers

NCOs

Soldiers

Ideological work

Due to the numerous sanctions imposed, North Korea is in a constant economic crisis. The economy is developing poorly. Most of the funds go to the army. Since 1990, the DPRK has adhered to a policy of priority for the military industry and the armed forces.

This made it possible to concentrate on the development of a nuclear program and secure sovereignty. What this policy will lead to in the future is unknown.

Advantages and disadvantages of KPA

Advantages

• high fighting spirit. Ideological indoctrination of the population is on a grand scale. Parades are held, children imbibe the ideal of Juche from an early age. All this led to the unity of the people and the readiness to stand to the end;
• number. Regular army - 1.2 million, reserve - 4 million, mobilization potential - 10 ml;
• strong cannon and rocket artillery.
• the presence of a submarine fleet;
• a strong military-industrial complex;
• the presence of nuclear weapons;
• global fortification of the country.

Flaws

• poor equipment of the army with modern technical means(Thermal imagers, SLAs, noctovisors, etc.);
• not the most modern aircraft.

South Korea is usually portrayed as the epitome of the Eastern economic miracle. Well-known trade brands Samsung, LG, Huyndai, Daewoo come from this Asian country. At the same time, this country is a major military power. The number of South Korean army is more than half a million people, and according to this indicator, it ranks seventh in the world.

Creation of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea

It began to be created immediately after the Second World War. The first combat units were the national defense units. These small units, in the main, performed police functions, and were created under the control of the American occupying forces. Accordingly, the training of personnel was carried out by US Army instructors.

Shortly after gaining statehood, on November 30, 1948, the law “On the Creation of a National Army” was issued, which for many years determined the principles of military development in the country. In 1949, the Republic of Korea began receiving US arms on a regular basis.

South Korean army baptism of fire

The first combat operation, in which the young army of South Korea had to participate, happened in the summer of 1948 during the communist uprising on Jeju Island. The rebels demanded honest democratic elections and reunification of South and North Korea.

The number of rebel groups was about 4,000 people. Initially, the rebels managed to achieve serious military successes. But in the spring of 1949, after the transfer of four reinforced battalions of the South Korean army to the island, the initiative passed to the side of the official government. Most of the rebel groups were defeated. The population of the island, who supported the communists, was subjected to repression. Since that time, the police role in the state has also been fixed.

Korean War

In June 1950, hostilities began between the DPRK and South Korea, which went down in history as. This war had a decisive impact on the South Korean army, its size and development strategy for decades. Also, this war was the bloodiest since the Second World War. Koreans died on both sides.

By the beginning of the war, the strength of the South Korean army was a little less than a hundred thousand people. The bulk of the military units were light infantry units. Armored vehicles were practically non-existent. The number of artillery was insignificant. The small South Korean fleet consisted mainly of patrol boats (about 10 units), minesweepers (35 units) and auxiliary vessels (20 units).

I experienced great difficulties with commanding personnel. By the beginning of the war, the number of officers, especially in the lower ranks of military command, did not meet the needs of the army. The recently opened military school did not manage to provide the army with command staff by the beginning of the war. The shortage of personnel became even greater after the start of active hostilities. The insufficient number of its officers was covered by the involvement of instructors from the US Army. By the beginning of hostilities, the number of American advisers was about 500 people.

All these circumstances had a negative impact on the actions of the South Korean units. initial period war. The poorly armed infantry divisions of the South Korean army were unable to offer significant resistance to the forces of the DPRK and in fact gave the North Koreans the entire territory of the country, with the exception of a small bridgehead in the south of the peninsula. And only the intervention of the US Army and its allies made it possible to change the situation in the theater of operations.

The war resulted in heavy losses in the army. In general, the armed forces of South Korea lost about 140 thousand people killed. To replenish the size of the army, the leadership of the Republic of Korea had to call up about 500,000 more conscripts. Since that time, the South Korean army has remained virtually unchanged in size.

After that, the Republic of Korea continued the active construction of its armed forces. The improvement of the army went with the direct support of the American administration, since the country's economy at that time was still weak to bear the high military spending.

Vietnamese mission of South Korea

The next combat episode in the history of the South Korean army was the Vietnam War.

During the initial period of the Vietnam War, the Republic of Korea Army provided a small contingent of 10 instructor officers and a military hospital with a staff of 130 people to be sent to the combat zone. But a year later, the size of the group was dramatically increased to 50 thousand people. The following were transferred from the South Korean army to Vietnam:

• two infantry divisions;
• Marine Brigade;
• transport air group;
• squadron of warships.

Taking into account the turnover of personnel, the number of the contingent that went through the war amounted to more than 300 thousand South Korean military.

The army of the Republic of Korea lost about 5 thousand people in this war. The number of wounded exceeded 11 thousand. Since the Korean War, South Korea's participation in the fighting in Vietnam has become the largest in terms of the number of casualties and the number of troops involved.

In fact, these sacrifices became the price for US economic assistance. During the fighting in Indochina, the Republic of Korea received about $5 billion in aid from Washington. Of these, the government spent 1 billion on military needs, namely, on providing an army group in Vietnam.

From Vietnam to Afghanistan

So you can conditionally call this period in the history of the army of South Korea. During this thirty-year period of peace, the main work of military construction in South Korea falls.

US military assistance allowed Seoul to carry out a massive overhaul of the army. Three new reserve divisions were formed, and the military command structure was improved. The number of professional officers and highly qualified technical specialists has increased.

In 1970, the authorities of the Republic of Korea adopted a five-year program of military development. In this document, for the first time, the principle of reforming the army based on its own forces was laid down. At that time, the foundation of our own military industry was laid, which subsequently made it possible to independently develop and produce modern weapons that are not inferior to world analogues.

Afghanistan and South Korea

After the Vietnam War, the South Korean army did not see combat for nearly 30 years. The first hot spot after such a long break was Afghanistan. The number of units sent to Kabul in 2002 amounted to 210 people. The group consisted of 60 medics and 150 soldiers of engineering and sapper units. This unit did not particularly participate in hostilities, performing mainly auxiliary functions:

• medical service;
• demining the area.

During the entire period of stay in Afghanistan, one fighter of the engineering unit was killed during the shelling of the Bagram airbase.

The withdrawal of the contingent took place in 2007, after a group of South Korean missionaries were taken hostage by Taliban terrorists.

Despite this, in 2009, Seoul re-sent units of its army to Afghanistan. This time, the army took over the function of guarding South Korean civilian specialists. The number of the contingent was:

• 350 military;
• 40 police officers;
• 100 civilian specialists.

By the way, the decision to re-enter was made after the head of the Pentagon visited Seoul. This fact once again confirmed the influence the American administration has on decision-making by the South Korean authorities.

South Korea and Iraq

The army of the Republic of Korea took much more part during the war in Iraq. This time the number of the army contingent was about 3,600 people.

South Korean units were not involved in the offensive operation. The first group arrived in Iraq in May 2003, when the active phase of the war ended. And the composition of this contingent, as in Afghanistan, was represented by military doctors and engineering units.

But by the spring of 2004, the size of the group was increased to 3,600 people, of which at least 800 were combat units. The city of Kirkuk became the place of deployment. The main task of the unit was to ensure the security of a group of specialists involved in the restoration of Iraq's civilian infrastructure. During the stay of the contingent in this Arab country, 1 person died.

The participation of the South Korean army in the so-called operation. "peacekeeping" in Iraq caused a significant public outcry in the homeland. The reason for this was a tragic incident involving the death of two civilian specialists who worked in Iraq on a contract basis. This case raised a wave of anti-war protests in Seoul, to pacify them, the authorities had to resort to the help of the police. Despite public sentiments, the entry of units of the South Korean army into Iraq nevertheless took place.

At the end of 2008, the UN mandate for the presence of coalition forces in Iraq expired. Simultaneously with the units of other countries, the contingent of South Korea also returned to their homeland.

Composition of the armed forces

The structure of the armed forces of South Korea is built according to American model. The commander-in-chief is the president of the country, subordinate to him are: the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for supply and manning, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (OKNSh) - the main body of operational and strategic command and control of troops.

The structure of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea includes three types:

• Ground troops;
• Navy;
• Air Force.

Ground troops

The largest branch of the armed forces in terms of numbers is the ground forces. According to official figures, the strength of this component of the South Korean army is about 560 thousand people.

The ground forces include the following types of troops:

• infantry;
• tank forces;
• artillery;
• rocket troops;
• air defense troops;
• troops special purpose;
• army aviation;
• engineering parts;
• Signal Corps.

Organizationally, they are summarized in 4 associations:

• 1st field army;
• 3rd field army;
• operational command (former 2nd field army);
• powers of central control.

The 1st and 3rd field armies are entrusted with the task of defending the territory along the demilitarized zone. These formations belong to the troops of constant combat readiness. The staffing and equipment is close to 100 percent.

The South Korean Army Operational Command includes the Territorial Defense Forces. Their task is to ensure the protection of the coast and large industrial centers. Most of the units of this grouping are cadre: they are equipped with 50-60 percent equipment, and 10-15 percent with personnel.

The forces of central subordination report directly to the OKNSh and perform tasks in the interests of all ground forces. They include, in particular:

• Missile Command - from 3 to 7 missile battalions (in different sources estimates vary), armed with missiles with a range of up to 300 km.
• Army Aviation Command, which includes two brigades and a helicopter battalion and an air assault brigade.
• The intelligence command, which includes parts of electronic intelligence, and separate detachments and groups of intelligence officers.
• Special Warfare Command, comprising seven airborne brigades and a special forces group.
• The Capital Command, which has a special role in ensuring the defense of Seoul and the surrounding areas. This association includes several infantry divisions territorial defense and units of combat and logistic support.

Each field army consists of 3-5 army corps, which have in their composition 3 divisions of an infantry profile, one armored or mechanized, artillery, engineering brigades.

Naval Forces of South Korea

Due to its peninsular position naval forces in South Korea is receiving increased attention. The navy became one of the first types of armed forces in the country. Its creation began even before the adoption of the "Law on the National Army".

Already in the autumn of 1945, the forces of the Coast Guard of South Korea were created. Initially, they included captured ships left in South Korean ports after the occupation by Japan. After the formal acquisition of statehood, the Coast Guard was renamed the Navy, and warships supplied as part of military assistance from the Pentagon began to enter its arsenal.

As a rule, these were decommissioned ships with not very high combat capabilities. Nevertheless, already in the first days of the war with the DPRK, the young fleet managed to win a naval victory. A North Korean armed steamer was sunk by fire from a South Korean boat. According to the South Korean side, this vessel was transporting a battalion of the DPRK army, intended for amphibious landing on the coast.

Until the end of the 1970s, the navy of the Republic of Korea was replenished with supplies from the United States and other countries. But with the development of industry and in particular the shipbuilding industry, Seoul gradually moved to self-build warships.

At the moment, the number of ships in the fleet of South Korea is over 400 ships:

• 14 submarines;
• 12 destroyers;
• 12 frigates;
• 6 landing ships;
• 30 corvettes;
• 100 patrol and landing boats;
• over 30 auxiliary vessels.

The composition of the fleet is constantly changing. New ships are launched and commissioned. Obsolete ships are being decommissioned.

The naval forces of the Republic of Korea organizationally consist of three fleets and a combat command. Each of the fleets has its own area of ​​responsibility:

• 1st Fleet is responsible for the Sea of ​​Japan zone;
• 2nd Fleet controls the waters of the Yellow Sea;
• The 3rd Fleet ensures the security of the Korea Strait.

The combat command includes a special forces brigade and three squadrons:

• submarines;
• heterogeneous forces;
• training ships.

The Marine Corps is also part of the Navy. These elite troops is about 68 thousand marines. Organizationally, they are reduced to two divisions and a brigade. The Marine Corps is the main strike force of the South Korean army in the coastal theaters of operations.

Air Force

The Air Force as a branch of the armed forces appeared in the South Korean army in October 1949. The first combat aircraft were the American "Mustangs" - fighters from the Second World War. Since the mid-50s, the United States began deliveries of F-86 Saber jet aircraft.

Thanks to military-technical cooperation with the United States, South Korea has managed to create a powerful air force. A significant part of the aircraft is produced at local enterprises under an American license.

The number of combat aircraft exceeds 500 units. The entire aviation fleet is located at 11 main and 49 auxiliary air bases.

The number of aviation personnel in 2012 was about 65 thousand people. The Air Force is also subordinate to the ground air defense units responsible for controlling the country's airspace.

Structurally, the South Korean Air Force consists of 7 commands:

• operational command;
• northern combat command;
• southern combat command;
• artillery air defense command;
• air defense command and control;
• logistics command;
• training command.

Armament of the Republic of Korea

Historically, the South Korean army received most of its weapons from the United States. In the 70s of the 20th century, Seoul headed for the creation of its own defense industry. And I must admit, I have achieved significant success in this.

In connection with the missile threat from the DPRK, Seoul pays increased attention to the development of a similar component in its army. At one time, tactical missiles of the Hyunmu family were created on the basis of American samples. Their range reaches 300 km, which covers a large part of North Korea. A new generation of missile weapons is also being developed, but there is no information about their specific characteristics yet.

The basis of the offensive combat power of the ground forces of the South Korean army is the K1 tank, created on the basis of the American Abrams and produced at local enterprises. The fleet of these combat vehicles is about 1500 units.

Infantry fighting vehicles are represented by the K200 and K21 models. If the K200 was developed on the basis of Western designs, then the K21 is actually an original development, which the Korean military calls the best BMP in the world. The number of these types of combat vehicles in the troops is about 2000 pieces.

The ground forces of South Korea even have Russian technology, in particular BMP-3, T-80, ATGM "Metis", SAM "Igla". They were delivered to the country in the 90s, when Russia was paying off its foreign debt with weapons. In 2015, Moscow began negotiations with Seoul on the return of this equipment, but no agreement has yet been reached.

The basis of the South Korean aviation combat fleet are:

• fighter KF-5;
• fighter-bomber KF-16;
• fighter F-4 Phantom II;
• F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bomber.

The first two types are produced under an American license in South Korean factories and are nothing more than the famous F-5 Tiger II and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. In addition to the licensed assembly of American aircraft, Seoul is actively engaged in the creation of aircraft of its own design.

The first-born of the South Korean aircraft industry is the T-50 aircraft. Designed primarily for the training of combat pilots, it quickly gained popularity both at home and abroad. Suffice it to say that the US Department of Defense decided to purchase a batch of T-50s to replace their obsolete training aircraft. This clearly indicates the high technical level of the South Korean aviation industry.

In the field of military shipbuilding, the industry is systematically increasing the quantitative and qualitative indicators of production. At the same time, there is an increase in the share of ocean-class ships and submarines in total strength fleet. In the direction of underwater shipbuilding, the leadership of South Korea says that by 2018 it will be able to independently build submarines in a full cycle - from development to launching. Until now, the construction of submarines has proceeded in close cooperation with Germany.

Despite the fact that the South Korean economy is experiencing better times, overcoming the consequences of the global crisis, defense spending remains traditionally high. According to this indicator, in 2016 Seoul was in 10th place in the world. Since 2005, the Republic of Korea's military budget has grown from $25 billion to $36 billion.

Recruitment of the South Korean army

The army of the Republic of Korea is recruited on the basis of the general military service. At the same time, even university students do not have a deferment from military service. Men over the age of 18 are eligible to apply. But in fact, people join the army at the age of 19-20 after graduating from high school (the Russian equivalent of grades 10-11). In the event of martial law, the draft age is raised to 45 years.

The length of service in the army differs by type of armed forces:

• 21 months - in the ground forces and marines;
• 23 months - in the Navy;
• 24 months in the Air Force.

The mobilization potential of the Republic of Korea is very high. In the event of war, the size of the army can grow to 5 million people.

All persons who have served military service are credited to the reserve. The system of reserve troops began to take shape in 1968 after the adoption of the relevant law. On a regular basis, reservists are required to undergo training camps in active military units. In addition, regular retraining is carried out at the place of residence or work.

The attitude to military service in Korean society is very responsible. It is not accepted to evade draft, as this may subsequently negatively affect a working career. In addition, evasion of service is punishable by imprisonment.

Service in the army is very honorable for the citizens of South Korea. Suffice it to mention that 167 ministers and 3 prime ministers graduated from military educational institutions and devoted some part of their lives to military service. The military career is also popular among women. Their number in the South Korean army is growing year by year.

South Korean army in the future

In 2012, the government of the Republic of Korea approved a document defining the policy of military construction for the period up to 2030. The main thesis of the army reform plan is the transition from quantity to quality.

The ground forces are waiting for a reduction in the number of personnel. Basically, this will affect the infantry units. By 2022, the size of the South Korean army will decrease by almost one and a half times to 380 thousand people. This will be the biggest downsizing in the Defense Department since the Korean War of 1950-1953.

The reform involves the disbandment of 14 divisions and 5 regiments. The proportion of mobile rapid response units will be increased. For the first time, a mountain rifle regiment will appear in the ground forces of the South Korean army, which will be deployed in the northeastern part of the country.

Great importance will be given to increasing the number missile weapons. It is planned to purchase 900 Hyunmu-class ballistic missiles. The construction of submarines will continue, including a new class capable of carrying cruise missiles.

Significant funds are planned to be spent on the social protection of servicemen and their families.

The difficult military-political situation in the Asia-Pacific region is forcing the leadership of South Korea to maintain its national army in a constant tone. At the same time, the influence of Seoul in world politics is gradually increasing, and in order to defend its interests, it is vital to demonstrate its high combat readiness both in front of its partners and competitors. Given this, we can assume that in the near future the South Korean army will experience a qualitative growth, and a new strong player will appear on the world arms market.

DPRK Air Force North Korea photo , the People's Democratic Republic is one of the most secret states in the world. Even in the era of the dominance of satellite reconnaissance means, their composition and organization are far from being fully known.

The flag of the DPRK Air Force (left) and the emblem of the military air force Democratic People's Republic of Korea (right)

The date of creation of the DPRK Air Force is August 20, 1947. By the middle of 1950, they included one mixed air division (57th assault air regiment - 93 Il-10, 56th fighter - 79 Yak-9, 58th training - 67 training and communications aircraft) and two airfield technical battalions .
In the early days of the war on the Korean Peninsula, the DPRK Air Force acted quite actively, but very soon suffered heavy losses. By August 21, 1950, only 20 serviceable fighters and one attack aircraft remained in service. In the winter of 1950-1951, only light night bombers Po-2, Yak-11 and Yak-18 operated at the front from the air force. At the same time, within the framework of the Joint (Chinese-Korean) Air Army (JVA) on the territory of the PRC, North Korean aviation was being recreated.
By mid-1951, it included 156 aircraft and 60 trained pilots. The arrival of MiG-15 jet fighters began, gradually becoming the main type combat aircraft Air Force of North Korea. On the account of North Korean pilots during the Korean War, 164 official air victories.

The leader of North Korea, has the military rank of marshal, Kim Jong-un photo with employees of the 1st Guards Division of the Air Force and Air Defense

Despite the presence of a fairly developed military industry (including missiles), the Korean People's Democratic Republic does not produce its own aircraft.
In subsequent decades, the DPRK Air Force developed on the basis of the supply of Soviet aircraft. There were also planes from China. To date, the North Korean air force has (according to various sources) from 1,100 to 1,500 and even (according to various sources) 1,700 aircraft and helicopters. The number of personnel reaches 110 thousand people. The structure and locations of air units are far from completely known.

Bases air force North Korea (North Korea), far from complete data

The most numerous type of combat aviation of the DPRK Air Force is fighter. The most modern aircraft in its composition are the MiG-29, delivered from the USSR at the turn of the 80s and 90s of the last century. Machines of this type are in service with the 57th Fighter Aviation Regiment, stationed in Onchon and included in the air defense system of the capital of the DPRK, Pyongyang.

The MiG-29 fighter is in service with North Korea, judging by the photo, the state of the air fleet is deplorable, the plane is painted with paint resembling oil, and this is one of the government’s propaganda, after all, the leader is present in the photo

MiG-23ML fighters serve in the 60th Air Regiment (Pukchang). The most widespread type of fighter is the MiG-21 - the DPRK Air Force has about 200 such aircraft of several modifications, including Chinese copies of the "twenty-first" (J-7). They are armed with the 56th IAP in Hwangju, the regiment in Toksan and a number of other units. Finally, there are about a hundred extremely outdated J-6 and J-5 aircraft (Chinese "clones" of the Soviet MiG-19 and MiG-17F, respectively) in service, which are completely unsuitable for air combat in modern conditions.

MiG-19 of the DPRK Air Force at the air base of South Korea (relations between the two neighboring states are very tense), in fact, a Chinese-made aircraft making exact copies our MIGs

In the photo - J-6, hijacked on May 23, 1996 by Captain Lee Chol-soo to South Korea, see photo above, this is the same aircraft. There are about a hundred extremely outdated J-6s and J-5s in service.

Aircraft and helicopter fleet of the DPRK Air Force (approximate data)

Fighters DPRK Air Force North Korea photo

• MiG-29/29UB - quantity 35/5
• MiG-23ML - 56 units
• MiG-21 PFM/bis/UM - 150
• J-7-40
• J-6-98
• J-5-ok. 100

MiG-21 is the most massive DPRK Air Force fighter, about 200 pieces are in service

Bombers North Korean Air Force

• H-5-80

Fighter-bombers, attack aircraft North Korea photo

• Su-7BMK -18 Su-25K/UBK - 32/4

Transport aircraft, Il-76-3 pieces, Il-62 - 2, An-24 - 6, An-2 - about 300
Educational,

• CJ-6-180
• JJ-5-135
• L-39C-12

Korean Air Force helicopters

• Mi-26-4
• Mi-8-15
• Mi-2-ok. 140
• Z-5 - approx. 40
• MD 500 - approx. 90

Also obsolete is bomber aviation, numbering about 80 H-5 aircraft - Chinese copies of Soviet Il-28 front-line bombers, related to the level of technology of the middle of the 20th century. They are equipped with regiments in Orang and Uizhu. According to Western sources, no more than half of all H-5s are in flight condition. Probably about the same percentage of combat readiness in other branches of aviation. Fighter-bomber and attack aircraft are concentrated in the 55th air regiment stationed in Sunchon. It includes about two dozen obsolete Su-7BMKs and about twice as many as modern Su-25s.
Auxiliary aviation
The basis of military transport aviation is a large number (about 300) of light single-engine An-2s. Performing in Peaceful time conventional transportation, in the military they are supposed to be used for the landing of reconnaissance and sabotage groups behind enemy lines. Heavier aircraft (for example, An-24 or Il-7b) in the Air Force - a few units. The situation is somewhat corrected by the use of Air Core for military transportation - formally civil, but actually part of Air force. 1996 Training aviation is represented by about three hundred Chinese-made G-6 (a copy of the Yak-18) and JJ-5 (double version of the J-5), as well as a dozen Czechoslovak L-39Cs. The training of flight personnel is carried out at several air bases concentrated in the north-eastern part of the country. The North Korean helicopter fleet is dominated by light vehicles.
Among them, American-made MD 500 helicopters, acquired in Germany as civilians, and already armed in North Korea, stand out.

MD 500 Helicopters Inc purchased in Germany, later the Malyutka ATGM was installed as a weapon on them

Air defense systems of North Korea

S-200 on launcher in the museum Hungary

North Korea has a very powerful and deeply echeloned (albeit obsolete) air defense system. In particular, there is:

• 24 SAM launchers long range S-200,
• 240 medium-range complexes S-75 and 128 - S-125.
• Military air defense is represented by the Krug, Kub, Strela and Igla MANPADS. And the anti-aircraft artillery park is measured by an astronomical figure - 11 thousand anti-aircraft guns!