North Korea Military Forces 🇰🇵

Strategic Position

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) maintains a defense posture centered on the preservation of the Kim dynasty and the deterrence of the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK). The primary security environment is defined by the 250-kilometer De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas. In 2025, North Korea officially abandoned the goal of peaceful reunification, amending its constitution to define South Korea as a "hostile state."

North Korea’s primary bilateral security agreement is the 1961 Sino-North Korean Mutual Aid and Cooperation Friendship Treaty with China. This relationship is supplemented by the 2024 Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the Russian Federation, which includes a mutual defense clause. Defense doctrine is guided by the "Songun" (military-first) policy and the "Byungjin" line, which dictates the simultaneous development of the national economy and nuclear weapons.

Strategic priorities focus on the development of a "nuclear triad" and the capability to conduct preemptive nuclear strikes against regional and continental U.S. targets. These priorities are codified in the 2022 Law on State Policy on Nuclear Forces, which outlines conditions for the automatic use of nuclear weapons if the command structure is threatened.

Military Forces

The Korean People's Army (KPA) is organized into five primary branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air and Anti-Air Force, Strategic Force, and Special Operations Force. Total active-duty personnel is approximately 1.3 million, supported by reserve and paramilitary forces exceeding 6 million, including the Worker-Peasant Red Guards.

Ground Force The Ground Force maintains the bulk of KPA personnel, with a high concentration of units deployed within 100 kilometers of the DMZ. Equipment includes T-54/55 and T-62 derivatives, such as the Chonma-ho and Pokpung-ho main battle tanks. In 2025, the KPA began wider integration of the "M2020" main battle tank, which features modern armor layouts and anti-tank guided missile launchers. The force relies heavily on tube artillery and Multiple Rocket Launch Systems (MLRS), including the 600mm "super-large" MLRS capable of delivering tactical nuclear warheads.

Navy The KPA Navy (KPAN) is primarily a brown-water force divided into East and West Sea Fleets. It operates a large fleet of submarines, including Romeo-class diesel-electric boats and the Sinpo-class (Gorae-class) experimental ballistic missile submarine. In 2025, the KPAN emphasized the deployment of the "Hero Kim Kun Ok," a tactical nuclear attack submarine converted from older designs. Surface assets consist of patrol craft, torpedo boats, and several frigates equipped with cruise missiles.

Air and Anti-Air Force The KPA Air and Anti-Air Force (KPAAF) operates an aging fleet of Soviet-era aircraft, including MiG-29, MiG-23, and Su-25 models. It maintains an extensive network of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), including the long-range Ponyeo-5 (KN-06) and newer indigenous systems resembling the Russian S-400.

Strategic Force and Specialized Capabilities The Strategic Force manages the ballistic missile inventory, ranging from short-range KN-23 and KN-24 systems to Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The Special Operations Force, estimated at 200,000 personnel, is trained for unconventional warfare, including rear-area infiltration via tunnels, AN-2 transport aircraft, and midget submarines. The Reconnaissance General Bureau oversees cyber warfare units capable of offensive operations against global financial and infrastructure targets.

Defense Industry

The DPRK defense industry is managed by the Second Economic Committee and operates with high levels of self-sufficiency. Domestic production covers the full spectrum of military hardware, from small arms and armored vehicles to sophisticated missile systems and naval vessels. Production facilities are frequently hardened or located underground to survive aerial bombardment.

The country has moved from reverse-engineering Soviet and Chinese designs to developing indigenous platforms. Since 2024, the defense industry has expanded its role as a global supplier, providing 152mm artillery shells, Grad rockets, and KN-23 ballistic missiles to Russia. This cooperation has facilitated technical exchanges, potentially assisting North Korean developments in military satellite technology and aerospace engineering.

Strategic Trends

North Korea is transitioning its missile force from liquid-fueled to solid-fueled engines to decrease launch preparation times and improve survivability. The Hwasong-18 ICBM and various intermediate-range missiles now utilize solid-propellant technology. Procurement priorities in 2025 and 2026 include the mass production of tactical nuclear warheads and the refinement of Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

The KPA is also prioritizing space-based reconnaissance. Following the launch of the Malligyong-1 satellite, the state plans to deploy a constellation of reconnaissance satellites to provide real-time targeting data. Defense spending is estimated to account for approximately 25% to 30% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), though precise figures are obscured by the state's accounting practices.

Constraints on the military include chronic fuel and food shortages, which limit large-scale combined arms training. Furthermore, the KPAAF faces a critical shortage of flight hours and spare parts for its fixed-wing inventory, forcing a greater reliance on ground-based air defense and asymmetric capabilities.