Navy comparison: South Korea vs North Korea
North Korea's 385-ship navy outnumbers South Korea's 155 vessels (2.5x advantage). The fleet breakdown includes 22 vs 73 submarines, 13 vs 0 destroyers, 17 vs 2 frigates, 6 vs 123 corvettes, 23 vs 0 amphibious ships, 35 vs 187 patrol boats, 23 vs 0 mine warfare ships (South Korea vs North Korea). South Korea's navy is officially the Republic of Korea Navy, while North Korea's is the Korean People's Army Naval Force.
Republic of Korea Navy 🇰🇷
| Official Name | Republic of Korea Navy |
| Total ships | 155 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 155 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 |
|
South Korean ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 22 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 13 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 17 | |
| Corvettes | 6 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 35 | |
| Amphibious ships | 23 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 23 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 4 | |
| Other ships | 12 | |
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, South Korea or North Korea?
North Korea has a larger navy with 385 ships compared to South Korea's 155 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, South Korea or North Korea?
North Korea operates more submarines with 73 compared to South Korea's 22.
Which navy has more destroyers, South Korea or North Korea?
South Korea operates 13 destroyers compared to North Korea's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, South Korea or North Korea?
South Korea operates 17 frigates compared to North Korea's 2.
How do the South Korea and North Korea navies compare in size?
North Korea's navy is 2.5 times larger than South Korea's in terms of total ships (385 vs 155).