Korean People's Army Ground Force

조선인민군 육군
Korean People's Army Ground Force

KPAGF Flag
Active
Country Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Allegiance North Korea
Type Army
Engagements Korean War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Choi Yong-kun, Kim Chaek

The Korean People's Army Ground Force is the army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Contents

History

The force was formed in the late 1940s and 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 II and V Corps, 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 KPA GF may have totaled fewer than 400,000 persons and probably did not rise much above that figure before 1972. The force expanded over the next two decades. In 1992, there were approximately 1 million personnel.[1] Before this expansion of the North Korean ground forces, the South Korean Army outnumbered the North Korean Army. From the 1970s on, South Korea started exceeding North Korea in terms of economics. Thus, South Korea could modernize its forces, which alerted North Korea and resulted in the expansion of the North Korean military. Ironically, the weaker of the two Koreas has maintained the larger armed force. The size, organization, disposition, and combat capabilities of the Ground Force give Pyongyang military options both for offensive operations to reunify the peninsula and for credible defensive operations against any perceived threat from South Korea.

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.

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.[2] 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 KPA 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 Koreas.

Equipment

The Ground Forces have a mixed 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. Total tank inventory amounts to between 4,500 and 5,400 units.

Main sources: [1] (note that this source is known to be quite outdated), [2]

Tanks

Name Type Country of Origin In Service Notes
Type 59 Main Battle Tank  People's Republic of China 1,000[3] some 2000 T-55 and Type 59 Tanks are thought to currently be in service
T-62 Main Battle Tank  Soviet Union 800 Capable of receiving model 3-5 Ch'onma-Ho upgrades
T-55 Main Battle Tank  Soviet Union 1,600 some 2000 T-55 and Type 59 Tanks are thought to currently be in service
PT-85 (Type-82) Amphibious Tank  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Unknown based on the VTT-323 APC chassis
PT-76 Amphibious Tank  Soviet Union 460 some PT-76 are in reserve status
Ch'ŏnma-ho Main Battle Tank  Democratic People's Republic of Korea as high as 1,000 (as of the early 1990's) 1,200 manufactured (as of the early 1990's)
P'okpung-Ho Main Battle Tank  Democratic People's Republic of Korea at least 200-300 in the 105th Guards Armored Division Locally designed Main Battle Tank, contains elements from T-62, T-72, Type 88, T-80 and T-90.

Armoured Personnel Carriers

Name Type Country of Origin In Service Notes
BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle  Soviet Union 200
VTT-323 Armored Personnel Carrier  People's Republic of China/ Democratic People's Republic of Korea Based on the YW-531
Type 63 APC Armored Personnel Carrier  People's Republic of China
BTR-80 Armored Personnel Carrier  Soviet Union 32 BTR-80A
BTR-60 Armored Personnel Carrier  Soviet Union 1,000
BTR-50P amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier  Soviet Union
Type 55 wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier  People's Republic of China Type 55
BTR-152 wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier  Soviet Union

Artillery and Guns

Name Type Country of Origin In Service Notes
76.2 mm coastal artillery gun
M-1974 152 mm SP gun-howitzer  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
M-1978 170mm SP gun-howitzer  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Largest Howitzer in KPA
M-1985 152 mm gun-howitzer  North Korea/ Soviet Union D-20/M1955; Type 83
M-1975 130 mm self-propelled gun  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
M-1992 130 mm self propelled gun  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
M-1981 122 mm self-propelled gun  Democratic People's Republic of Korea Type 54 SPH
M-1991 122 mm self-propelled howitzer  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
M-1992 120 mm self propelled combination gun  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
M-1992 anti-air gun  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
ZSU-57-2 Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.  Soviet Union 250
ZSU-23-4 Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.  Soviet Union 100
M1985 240mm rocket launcher  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
M-1991 240 mm rocket launcher  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
M-1985 122 mm multiple rocket launcher  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
BM-11 122 mm multiple rocket launcher  North Korea/ Soviet Union
Type 63 107 mm multiple rocket launcher  People's Republic of China
BM-24 240 mm multiple rocket launcher  Soviet Union 200 delivered in 1955
SU-100 100 mm SP assault gun  Soviet Union
 ? mortars various ? 7,500 North Korea is known to have some 7,500 mortars of different types and origin in its inventory

Anti-tank weapons

Small Arms

Uniform

KPAGF officers and soldiers are most often seen wearing a mix of olive green or tan uniforms. However the pictures depict of North Korean army in propaganda footage or formal setting. The basic dress uniform consists of a tunic and pants; female soldiers wear skirts. A cap or visor cap are worn in spring and summer months and a Soviet fur hat (the Ushanka hats) in winter. A variant of the M81 Woodland is also being worn by a few and rare images of North Korean army officers. In Non-Dress uniforms a steel helmet (Soviet M-60 combat helmet) seems to be the most common headgear, and is sometimes worn with a camouflage covering.

See also

References

  1. ^ Federation of American Scientists, Korean Peoples' Army, accessed February 2008
  2. ^ Hodge, Homer T., "North Korea's Military Strategy", Hodge: 2003.
  3. ^ Christopher F Foss.. Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005-2006.