Navy comparison: Japan vs North Korea
North Korea's 385-ship navy outnumbers Japan's 154 vessels (2.5x advantage). The fleet breakdown includes 25 vs 73 submarines, 46 vs 0 destroyers, 4 vs 2 frigates, 0 vs 123 corvettes, 16 vs 0 amphibious ships, 6 vs 187 patrol boats, 22 vs 0 mine warfare ships (Japan vs North Korea). Japan's navy is officially the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, while North Korea's is the Korean People's Army Naval Force.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵
| Official Name | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
| Total ships | 154 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 154 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Korean People's Army Naval Force 🇰🇵
| Official Name | Korean People's Army Naval Force |
| Total ships | 385 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 385 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Japanese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 25 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 46 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 4 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 6 | |
| Amphibious ships | 16 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 22 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 10 | |
| Other ships | 25 | |
North Korean ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 73 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 2 | |
| Corvettes | 123 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 187 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 0 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 0 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, Japan or North Korea?
North Korea has a larger navy with 385 ships compared to Japan's 154 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, Japan or North Korea?
North Korea operates more submarines with 73 compared to Japan's 25.
Which navy has more destroyers, Japan or North Korea?
Japan operates 46 destroyers compared to North Korea's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, Japan or North Korea?
Japan operates 4 frigates compared to North Korea's 2.
How do the Japan and North Korea navies compare in size?
North Korea's navy is 2.5 times larger than Japan's in terms of total ships (385 vs 154).