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Navy comparison: Flag of North Korea North Korea vs Flag of Vietnam Vietnam

North Korea's 391 warships outnumber Vietnam's 86 (4.5:1 advantage). Counting auxiliaries, reserve and non-commissioned hulls, the fleets number 420 and 116.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Naval ensign of North Korea North KoreaWorld #26 18.0
SEAS Index / 100

Vietnam leads on 5 of 8 categories

Naval ensign of Vietnam VietnamWorld #18 20.3
  • 2 Destroyersweight ×50 · size, era 0
  • 21 Submarinesweight ×45 · size, era 6
  • 2 Frigatesweight ×30 · size, era 9
  • 9 Corvettesweight ×15 · size, era 17
  • 0 Amphibiousweight ×12 · size, era 8
  • 0 Mine warfareweight ×5 · size, era 8
  • 181 Patrol boatsweight ×2 · size, era 18
  • 176 Coastal boatsweight ×1 · size, era 20
  • 1 Support shipsnot scored 20
  • 1 Other shipsnot scored 10
North Korea Vietnam 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 Vietnam Ratio
Official name Korean People's Army Naval Force Vietnam People's Navy
Total ships 420 116 🇰🇵 3.6×
Active ships 393 116 🇰🇵 3.4×
On order / planned 3 9 🇻🇳 3.0×
Submarines 21 6 🇰🇵 3.5×
Principal surface combatants 4 9 🇻🇳 2.2×
Amphibious ships 0 8 🇻🇳
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
Corvettes 9 17 🇻🇳 1.9×
Patrol boats 181 18 🇰🇵 10×
Mine warfare 0 8 🇻🇳
Coastal boats 176 20 🇰🇵 8.8×
Auxiliaries 2 30 🇻🇳 15×
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇰🇵 North KoreaRomeo-class ×20Choe Hyon-class ×2Najin-class ×2
🇻🇳 VietnamImproved Kilo-class ×6Petya-class ×5Project 1241.1 Molniya-class ×12
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, North Korea or Vietnam?
North Korea has a larger navy with 391 warships in service compared to Vietnam's 86.
Which navy has more submarines, North Korea or Vietnam?
North Korea operates more submarines with 21 compared to Vietnam's 6.
Which navy has more destroyers, North Korea or Vietnam?
North Korea operates 2 destroyers compared to Vietnam's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, North Korea or Vietnam?
Vietnam operates 9 frigates compared to North Korea's 2.
How do the North Korea and Vietnam navies compare in size?
North Korea's navy is 4.5 times larger than Vietnam's in terms of total ships (391 vs 86).