Bureau. During wartime, it will function as the primary headquarters coordinating all special operations.
The following example of a failed KPA Special Purpose Forces operation reflects, in part, their mission and capabilities:
In 1996, a KPA Reconnaissance Bureau operation failed when a KPN SANGO-class submarine ran aground off the east coast of the ROK during the retrieval of a 26-man sniper brigade team. Two members of this team successfully eluded a massive (more than 16,000 ROK Army troops) search and capture operation for 49 days before being located and killed. A third sniper team member eventually escaped back to the DPRK across the DMZ. Twenty-three members of the team and crew of the submarine accepted death as more honorable than capture, indicative of the KPA dedication and political indoctrination.
This supreme dedication to their leadership and their country is a very important element that must be considered. The unconventional warfare (small unit) aspect of North Korea’s offensive strategy is essential to winning the decisive fight and to achieving victory.
KPA Conventional Capabilities. Measured by the number of personnel in uniform, North Korea possesses the world’s fourth largest military. But this ranking fails to capture the high level of militarization in the DPRK. Most men and some women (approximately 10 percent of the KPA are women) between the ages of 17 and 25 serve legally for 42-48 months, but most stay at least 10 years (for women, it is normally 6-8 years). However, their commitment is then transferred from active duty to a reserve, defense industry factory, or security aspect of the government.
Ground. With approximately 1 million active-duty troops, the KPA ground forces are the largest and most formidable of the KPA’s components. The size, organization, and combat capabilities of the ground forces provide the DPRK with substantial defensive and offensive capabilities.
The active-duty KPA ground forces are comprised of 19 corps-level units including nine corps, four mechanized corps, one tank corps, one artillery corps, the Pyongyang Defense Command, Border Guard Command, Missile Guidance Bureau and the Light Infantry Instruction Guidance Bureau (previously discussed).
During the past 20 years the KPA has initiated a comprehensive program involving the reorganization, reequipping, and forward redeployment of ground forces units, as well as the complete restructuring and upgrading of reserve forces and the rear area command structure. Notable improvements include the reorganization of a number of motorized infantry divisions and mechanized brigades into mechanized corps, and the production and deployment of new tanks and long-range self-propelled artillery systems.
Today, the KPA is assessed to have an aggregate of 3500 main battle tanks, 6560 armored fighting vehicles, and 10,400 field artillery (including multiplerocket launchers), as well as large array of air-defense artillery systems (almost 16,000 pieces).
The KPA’s concept of “mechanization” is different from that currently used by the ROK or U.S. military forces. With regard to infantry forces, “mechanization” is designed to provide rapid protected movement to combat. The vast majority of the KPA’s mechanized infantry forces will travel via trucks or armored personnel carriers (APC), not infantry fighting vehicles. Once these KPA units arrive at their destination, they will debark and fight as conventional infantry. However, the KPA has enhanced the mobility of its infantry forces and the protection of its tanks, self-propelled artillery and self-propelled anti-aircraft systems, not the acquisition of large quantities of armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles. Thus, anywhere from 40-60 percent of any KPA mechanized infantry unit actually is truck mobile.
During the past 20 years, the KPA has attempted to improve the organization and equipment of its ground forces. This has been accomplished during a period of deepening economic crisis which has limited access to foreign equipment and precipitated fuel shortages, and restricting training and operations.
Further complicating this effort has been a series of natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, and famines that have affected every aspect of life within the DPRK. Despite preferential treatment when compared to the general population, the effects of these domestic crises on the KPA ground component have been significant, especially upon units deployed within the rear areas.
There have been frequent reports of serious shortages of food, fuel, winter clothes, and other military supplies for KPA troops. Soldiers are mobilized for various labor requirements outside of the military, such as factory, farming, or construction to meet statedictated quotas, in addition to their various military exercises, to earn foreign currency and supplement their shortage in food. Morale and discipline problems cannot help but increase, training has decreased, and some units would have difficulty maintaining operational readiness.
Navy. The Korean People’s Navy (KPN) maintains approximately 46,000 personnel, and its combat ship approximately 46,000 personnel, and its combat ship 800 ships, which rank the KPN as one of the world’s largest navies. The KPN’s world rating is only a qualitative number. The ROKN may have a lower figure of ships in its inventory (approximately 260 ships, including submarines), but it maintains superiority on total tonnage and weapon and sensor technology. For example, the largest ships in the KPN inventory are the SOHO-class (1,845 tons) and two NAJIN-class Light Frigates (FFLs) (1,500 tons each). Compare these ships with the newest ROKN ships, such as the Kwangaeto-class DDHs which are 3,900 tons each (three units). South Korea has begun initial production of a KDX-III destroyer which will incorporate phased array radar technology and state-of-the art weapons.
North Korea is assessed to have approximately 88 submarines, the world’s largest submarine fleet, which is capable of slowing force generation through naval mine laying, anti-ship torpedoes, and SOF interdiction. Production of a coastal submarine, the SANG-0 (meaning shark) class reportedly continues.
The majority of the KPN’s fleet is comprised of torpedo boat-size hulls which are from 60 to 200 tons. Other small surface combatants include patrol boats, patrol craft, and fast attack craft (which have a variety of ground weapons mounted on them such as 85/100mm tank turrets or 122 mm rocket launchers) — actually designed as sea-going artillery.
The navy’s most capable weapons systems are their guided-missile patrol boats (over 30) equipped with the SS-N-2A Styx anti-ship missile. Though their small size limits operations to coastal waters and calm seas, they have the capability to respond quickly to ships approaching the coast.
Since 2000, the KPN has continued to modify existing vessels and construct small numbers of patrol boats, coastal submarines, hovercraft, and specialized infiltration craft. Details concerning these developments are not currently available.
The peacetime missions of the KPN include:
Defense of DPRK territorial waters and coasts;
Seaborne insertion of intelligence agents and special operations forces;
North Korean coastal surveillance; and,
Protection and control of coastal shipping and fishing operations.
During wartime, the KPN would be tasked with amphibious lift and fire-support operations, support to KPA ground force units, naval mine warfare (both offensive and defensive), interdiction of enemy shipping in waters adjacent to the Korean peninsula, and rear area security.
The KPN is divided into two fleets, the Yellow Sea Fleet (west coast fleet) and the East Sea Fleet (east coast fleet). The Supreme Naval Headquarters is located in Pyongyang and controls both. These fleets have not been detected exchanging ships, probably because of geographical limitations which make mutual support almost impossible.
The KPN maintains
