Popular army of Korea

The popular Armée with Korea is the fifth more important army of the world in manpower with 1 106 000 soldiers of active and 4 700 000 of reserve and the first of many soldiers for 1 000 inhabitants (49,03).

History

Created the February 8th 1948, the popular army of Korea sprang the June 25th 1950 with 135.000 men with the conquest of South Korea hustling weak the South Korean Armée initially and seizing the great majority of the peninsula.

Following the intervention of the the United Nations primarily made up of the Armed forces of the United States, it was driven back then towards the extreme north of the country or the intervention of the popular Armée with release allowed a counter-offensive.

The conflict enlisa then until 1953 on a War of position S in the neighborhoods of the border intercoréenne.

Since this date, the Korean northern army remains mobilized on the demilitarized Korean Zone and of the sometimes fatal fixings take place from time to time.

Pilot North-Korean took part in the Guerre of Kippour in the rows of the Arab forces.

Effort of defense of the North Korea compared to that of South Korea

the CIA estimates that the country devotes between 20% and 25% of its GDP to the army, that is to say rates comparable with the countries most armed in the world, like the Syria. The North Korea justifies the importance of the military effort by the will to maintain a parity military with the American South Korea and forces which are stationed there. The South Korean military expenditure thus represents a share definitely weaker of the South Korean economy (2,5% of the GDP).

Nevertheless, according to Selig Harrison, director of the Asia program in Center for International Policy and researcher in Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, “the American presence makes it possible South Korea to minimize the sacrifices which would be differently necessary in order to maintain its high levels current of expenditure for defense. In the same way, the withdrawal of the American forces would oblige Seoul to decide if he seeks the same security level as that now provided by the American presence by increasing his expenditure of defense, or if, with the place, the objective of a compromise and a reunification with North would be been useful better by the negotiation with this last of a mutual reduction of the forces. ” (source: The Korea Policy Review, February 2006, taken again on the site Korea is One).

It should however be noted that the American contribution is only of 22 500 men, whereas the South Korean army counts approximately 600.000 men under the flags. The North Korea, as for it, devotes 25% of sound GDP to the army and account 49 soldiers for 1000 inhabitants, that is to say a level definitely higher than a country like Israel (33 per 1000 inhabitants, source: http://factsofisrael.com/en/stats.shtml), much less populated, and which, in spite of a latent state of war, devotes only 7,7% of its GDP to the army.

The comparison of only manpower of the troops present at the north and the south of the Korean peninsula should not however not mask the technological differences between the two camps nor the fact that the presence of the American forces in South Korea fits in the “general device of defense American”. Thus, “in addition to the direct costs generated by their forces in Korea, 2 billion dollars per annum on average, the United States spend more than 40 billion dollars each year in order to maintain the device general of defense American in Eastern Asia and in the west of the Pacific, on which depends their capacity to intervene in Korea. ” And, always according to Selig Harrison: “Just like the Complexe militaro-industrialist is opposed to the South with mutual reductions of the forces, there is also a complex militaro-industrialist in the North, combined with holding of the hard line within the Party of work. The reductions of forces are not appreciated by this faction of the hard line with Pyongyang. ” (source: The Korea Policy Review, February 2006, taken again on the site Korea is One).

The important role of the armed forces in North Korea (Armed popular with Korea, APC) reflects the Politique songun: according to the words of Kim Jong-Il, " the Army initially ".

Forces North-Korean

Active: 1.106.000 men (of which terrestrial Forces: 950.000)
Reservist S: 4.700.000

(Sources: Military Balances IISS, taken again by AFP)

Foot-note: Information which follows was reported following the references given by GlobalSecurity.org and Jane' S Weekly Defense Review. In addition a reading of the report/ratio North Korea Country Handbook - Marine Body Activity Intelligence as well as Encyclopedia of the information and secret services of Jacques Baud (1 volume) and the Encyclopedia of the Special forces of Jean-Pierre Husson (2 volumes), made it possible to supplement this information.

Principal bodies of command

the President of the Republic.
the Ministry for National defense (MDN).
the Committee of the Military Businesses of the Party of the Workers North-Korean (CAMPTNC).
the Department of Civil defense (DDC).
the Department of the Military Businesses (DAM).
Commission of National defense (CDN).
the Ministry for the Popular Armed forces (MFAP).
the General Political office of the State Major Général (BPG - EMG).

The EMG is under the jurisdiction of the MFAP, the highest military institution North-Korean. Just like the Military committee, the EMG and the MFAP fall under the direct command from the President from the République Kim Jong-Il. Indeed, this one is Commander Suprême of the Popular Armed forces (FAP) as a President of the Republic, and is commander of all the bodies falling under the Juridiction from the Military committee because he is also the President.

Popular Armed forces

Effective composition of the Popular Armed forces

The Popular Armed forces comprise 12 principal Army corps, that is to say approximately 950.000 personnel. They are divided into 4 levels of Defense. Units known as " of first circle or first échelon" are the units closest to the demilitarized zone (DMZ). They are involved better and equipped because they are supposed to receive the first shock in the event of invasion coming from the South.

One will note that the doctrines North-Korean remain, like that of the south and the units of the the United States of America and the the United Nations, based beyond the parallel 38e, on a strategic and tactical employment standard " Cold war " with deployment of Armor-plated in mass, massive support of Artillery and ocupation of the ground by the Infantry (following the example first War of the Gulf in 1991 or first phase of the second in 2002).

IE Army corps (it [[HQ] is based with] Kumgang) - 1st (safe level for the units attached directly to the EMG).
IIe Army corps (Kumchan) - 1st.
IIIe Army corps (Pyongyang) - 3rd.
IVe Army corps (Kumgang) - 1st.
Ve Army corps (Saepho) - 1st.
It does not have there Life Body following its dissolution in 1951.
VIIe Army corps (Pyongan-namdo) - 3rd.
VIIIe Army corps (Panghwon) - 4th.
IXe Army corps (Hamgyong-bukdo) - 4th.
Xe Army corps (Hamgyon-namdo) - 4th.
XIe Army corps (Pyongan-namdo) - 4th.
U/I nonwell informed Army corps - NR - 3rd.

Are added to it:

Body of Artillery of Kangdong (Pyongan-namdo & Hwanghae-bukdo) - 3rd.
620e Body of Artillery (Hwanghae-bukdo) - 1st.

108e Mechanized Body (Hungnam) - 4th.
425e Mechanized Body (Pyongan-bukdo) - 4th.
806e Mechanized Body (H' ueyang) - 1st.
815e Mechanized Body (Shinggye) - 1st.

820e Armor-plated Body (Koksan) - 1st.

Commandement of Defense of Pyongyang (Pyongyang-if & Pyongan-namdo) - 3rd.
Commandement Anti-Aérien of Pyongyang (Pyongyang-if) - EMG.
Division of Military Information attached to the State Major Général - EMG.

General equipment of the Popular Armed forces

The principal equipment of the forces North-Korean is composed as follows:

3.800 Tank, including 2750 T-54 /55/59 (approximately).
800 models more recent of T-62 and light combat tanks.
250 T34 out of age (approximately).
2.800 Armored vehicles (mainly of the series Russian BTR and the Type M1973 Chinese).
8.300 heavy artillery mountings of 76.2mm, 100mm, 122mm, 130mm, 152mm and of the howitzers of 170mm (approximately).
2.700 multiple Rocket launchers of 107mm, 122mm, 132mm, 240mm (approximately).
12.500 anti-aircraft mountings of various and varied gauges energy of 12.7mm with 80mm (approximately).

The Popular Air forces

Effective composition of the Popular Air forces

Few precise figures are available on manpower of this weapon because it is used very little because of the lack of parts available, labor qualified and fuel suppliers since the fall of the Soviet Union and the increasing tepidity of the Popular republic of China to pursue blindly the policy of the leaders North-Korean. One estimates at approximately 110.000 active personnel in the Popular Air forces. This includes the personnel flying personnel, the personnel of maintenance and logistics, administrative staffs and of command.

General equipment of the Popular Air forces

The equipment of the Air forces North-Korean is often out of age, little maintained and completely obsolete for the majority. The Suprématie air (already effective during the Guerre of Korea of the United States, and the absence of accessible new technologies, do not leave that little place to the development of the air weapon North-Korean. In addition the main part of the appropriations allocated with Defense is redirected towards Defense of the Territory (what passes by the terrestrial Forces and the Navy) like worms matter balistico-nuclear power research.

One can list the air material roughly all the same North-Korean (to be noted that the essence of the material listed below, is of Soviet origin or Chinese, dating from years 80-90 for the most recent aircraft…) appearing names following the types of material correspond to [[code NATO] or generalized]:

80 bombers approximately (standard H-5; Iliouchine It-28).
530 hunters approximately (standard Mig-17/Mig-19/Mig-21/Mig-23/Mig-29; JianJiji J-5 Fresco/6 Farmer/7 Fishbed; Fantan Q-5 ; Sukhoi Known-7 Fitter/Soukhoï Known-25).
90 helicopters of attack approximately (standard Millet Semi-24; Hughes MD-500). - These last assets with the Black-market -
320 airfreighters of transport approximately (standard Antonov Year-2 Colt or its copy chinoise/24 Coke; Iliouchine It-14 /18/62M; Tupolev Tu134 /154).
300 helicopters of transport approximately (standard Hughes MD-500; Semi-2 Hoplite /8 Hip /17 Hip-H; Harbin Z-5).

Division of the Ballistic missiles

General material equipment

Problems involved in the development of the Nuclear program North-Korean

First of all, the main issue of development of the program Balistique Militaire North-Korean comes from the use of the fuel UDMH + IRFNa. Indeed, this one is corrosive Liquide, , highly Toxique and very Instable. In contact with the Oxygène it explodes, and its handling requires protocols very long and complex, which returns any warehouse, transport or loading on missiles, detectable by satellite, and would allow the Western and Eastern Intelligence services, to envisage possible a Mise at fire and to take the countermeasures which are essential. Its extreme Instability and its loading more than hazardous, would mean, than any movement of preparation of shooting would be equivalent to a direct and irrevocable threat, even with a declaration of war if the threat is proven. Research, in bond with the services Pakistani or Iranian, has aimed at the settling of solid Carburant, known as with Poudre, used by the Western Lanceur S for several years. The capacity of development of a missile with long standard range Taepodong-2-C requires the acquisition of this solid Carburant.

In addition, the protocols of firing are very long and tiresome. Their cancellation is very complex, hazardous and without convincing result. The beginning of sequencing of firing would thus mean, also, decision without possible return.

One will also note that the size of the Nuclear bomb North-Korean is, at present, too important at present to be charged on a Vecteur. Its weight would break the structure of the missile during launching and its detonation, once been able on the target, too random to be used for the moment. Research North-Korean thus aims also to the reduction of the bomb, and a firing sourer and more rapid that it is not it currently.

Nuclear installations

Pyongyang: an engine of research.
Pyongsan : a nuclear fuel factory.
Sunchon : a nuclear fuel factory.
Yongbyon: two nuclear reactors, an engine of research, two nuclear fuel factories.
Pakchon : a nuclear fuel factory.
Taechon : a nuclear reactor.
Shinpo : two nuclear reactors in construction.

International military cooperations

The treaty sino - North-Korean of 1961 envisages a support of the Popular republic of China in the event of military attack against the North Korea.

The democratic Popular republic of Korea maintains the military cooperations with other countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. June 2nd, 2007, Kim It-chol, minister North-Korean of defense, thus met with Pyongyang a delegation led by her Angolan homology Kundi Paihama.

References

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