Military Analysis of North Korea

In this article I will analyze the Korean People’s Army which represents the military forces of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The Korean People’s Army is composed of 5 branches, Korean People’s Army Ground Force, Korean People’s Navy, Korean People’s Air force, strategic rocket force, and North Korean Special Operation Force. In this paper I will look at the big three: Korean People’s Army Ground Force, Korean People’s Navy, and Korean People’s Air force. I will talk about the force strength and some of the equipment that each brings to the fight.

Korean People’s Army Ground Force

The Korean People’s Army Ground Force makes up the largest part of the Korean People’s Army and is responsible for land operations. In the 2013 US Defense departments study of the Korean People’s Army they estimate the current strength at about 950,000 personal equipped with 4,200 tanks, 2,200 armored vehicles, 8,600 artillery guns, and over 4,800 multiple rocket launchers. Most of the force is comprised of light infantry soldiers. A large majority of the Army is strategically deployed to forward areas of operation, where their deep artillery poses an increased threat to the Republic of Korea.

Korean armor is out dated and based on 1960’s and 70’s technology. The main battle tank of the North Korean Army is T-55. The T-55 is equipped with a 120 mm or 125 mm guns, active protection systems, and fire control systems with range-finders or thermal sights.

Do to the out dated and aged equipment of the armor the North Korean Army is trying to supplement is force with a massive amount of artillery. North Korean most dangerous artillery systems are their long range systems. The long range systems are composed of 170mm self propelled howitzers and...

... middle of paper ...

...iles, torpedoes, guns, and radar or infrared homing seekers. Even with a limited range of about 50 nautical miles the small boats are capable of responding to combat ships in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s waters.

The Korean People’s Navy has a large inventory of well equipped submarine ranging from attack subs to midget type subs. Attack subs have improved sonar, and capable of carry 14 torpedoes or 28 mines. While the midget type subs are used for clandestine operation with the Special Operation forces.

Despite North Korea’s internal challenges the Korean People’s Army poses a serious risk to dispute the security of North Asia and United States interests in the region. With little or no warning, even with its aging equipment, it still retains the capability to inflict significant damage, especially in the region from the De-militarized Zone (DMZ) to Seoul