Navy comparison:
North Korea vs
Russia
North Korea operates 391 warships compared to 279 for Russia. Counting auxiliaries, reserve and non-commissioned hulls, the fleets number 420 and 475.
SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
North Korea
Russia
Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight × size, era and propulsion factors, minor vessels capped at 30 % of the combatant points; the air-wing, sustainment, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| North Korea | Russia | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Korean People's Army Naval Force | Russian Navy | |
| Total ships | 420 | 475 | 🇷🇺 1.1× |
| Active ships | 393 | 456 | 🇷🇺 1.2× |
| On order / planned | 3 | 73 | 🇷🇺 24× |
| Submarines | 21 | 56 | 🇷🇺 2.7× |
| Principal surface combatants | 4 | 20 | 🇷🇺 5.0× |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | 17 | 🇷🇺 |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Corvettes | 9 | 63 | 🇷🇺 7.0× |
| Patrol boats | 181 | 64 | 🇰🇵 2.8× |
| Mine warfare | 0 | 43 | 🇷🇺 |
| Coastal boats | 176 | 16 | 🇰🇵 11× |
| Auxiliaries | 2 | 177 | 🇷🇺 88× |
Backbone classes one per tier held
Explore this matchup
Go deeper · same matchup, other lenses
Change opponent
Related comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, North Korea or Russia?
North Korea has a larger navy with 391 warships in service compared to Russia's 279.
Which navy has more submarines, North Korea or Russia?
Russia operates more submarines with 56 compared to North Korea's 21.
Which navy has more destroyers, North Korea or Russia?
Russia operates 6 destroyers compared to North Korea's 2.
Which navy has more frigates, North Korea or Russia?
Russia operates 12 frigates compared to North Korea's 2.