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🇯🇵
Ranks· 🇯🇵 Japan

Japan vs North Korea Military Ranks

The Japanese Army has 17 ranks — 10 officer and 7 enlisted — from 2等陸士 Nitō rikushi up to 幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō. Below: all 51 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their North Korean equivalents.

Branches
3
Ranks documented
51
Active personnel
247K

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 16 of 17 matched
🇯🇵 Japan · Army NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
Japan Army 幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō insignia 幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō OF-9 General North Korea Army 대장 Daejang insignia 대장 Daejang
Japan Army 陸将 Rikushō insignia 陸将 Rikushō OF-8 Lieutenant General North Korea Army 상장 Sangjang insignia 상장 Sangjang
Japan Army 陸将補 Rikushō-ho insignia 陸将補 Rikushō-ho OF-7 Major General North Korea Army 중장 Chungjang insignia 중장 Chungjang
Japan Army 1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa insignia 1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa OF-5 Colonel North Korea Army 대좌 Daechwa insignia 대좌 Daechwa North Korea Army 상좌 Sangjwa insignia 상좌 Sangjwa
Japan Army 2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa insignia 2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel North Korea Army 중좌 Chungjwa insignia 중좌 Chungjwa
Japan Army 3等陸佐 Santō rikusa insignia 3等陸佐 Santō rikusa OF-3 Major / Commandant North Korea Army 소좌 Sojwa insignia 소좌 Sojwa
Japan Army 1等陸尉 Ittō rikui insignia 1等陸尉 Ittō rikui OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant North Korea Army 대위 Taewi insignia 대위 Taewi
Japan Army 2等陸尉 Nitō rikui insignia 2等陸尉 Nitō rikui OF-1 Lieutenant North Korea Army 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi North Korea Army 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi North Korea Army 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi
Japan Army 3等陸尉 Santō rikui insignia 3等陸尉 Santō rikui OF-1 Lieutenant North Korea Army 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi North Korea Army 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi North Korea Army 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi
Japan Army 准陸尉 Jun rikui insignia 准陸尉 Jun rikui OF-1 Lieutenant North Korea Army 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi North Korea Army 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi North Korea Army 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi
Enlisted ranks
Japan Army 陸曹長 Rikusōchō insignia 陸曹長 Rikusōchō OR-9 Sergeant Major –
Japan Army 1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō insignia 1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō OR-8 1st Sergeant North Korea Army 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa insignia 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
Japan Army 2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō insignia 2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class North Korea Army 상사 Sangsa insignia 상사 Sangsa
Japan Army 3等陸曹 Santō rikusō insignia 3等陸曹 Santō rikusō OR-6 Staff Sergeant North Korea Army 중사 Chungsa insignia 중사 Chungsa
Japan Army 陸士長 Rikushichō insignia 陸士長 Rikushichō OR-3 Private 1st Class North Korea Army 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
Japan Army 1等陸士 Ittō rikushi insignia 1等陸士 Ittō rikushi OR-2 Private North Korea Army 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
Japan Army 2等陸士 Nitō rikushi insignia 2等陸士 Nitō rikushi OR-1 Private North Korea Army 전사 Chŏnsa insignia 전사 Chŏnsa

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 16 of 17 matched
🇯🇵 Japan · Air Force NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
Japan Air Force 幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō insignia 幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō OF-9 General North Korea Air Force 대장 Daejang insignia 대장 Daejang
Japan Air Force 空将 Kūshō insignia 空将 Kūshō OF-8 Lieutenant General North Korea Air Force 상장 Sangjang insignia 상장 Sangjang
Japan Air Force 空将補 Kūshō-ho insignia 空将補 Kūshō-ho OF-7 Major General North Korea Air Force 중장 Chungjang insignia 중장 Chungjang
Japan Air Force 1等空佐 Ittō kūsa insignia 1等空佐 Ittō kūsa OF-5 Colonel North Korea Air Force 대좌 Daechwa insignia 대좌 Daechwa North Korea Air Force 상좌 Sangjwa insignia 상좌 Sangjwa
Japan Air Force 2等空佐 Nitō kūsa insignia 2等空佐 Nitō kūsa OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel North Korea Air Force 중좌 Chungjwa insignia 중좌 Chungjwa
Japan Air Force 3等空佐 Santō kūsa insignia 3等空佐 Santō kūsa OF-3 Major / Commandant North Korea Air Force 소좌 Sojwa insignia 소좌 Sojwa
Japan Air Force 1等空尉 Ittō kūi insignia 1等空尉 Ittō kūi OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant North Korea Air Force 대위 Taewi insignia 대위 Taewi
Japan Air Force 2等空尉 Nitō kūi insignia 2等空尉 Nitō kūi OF-1 Lieutenant North Korea Air Force 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi North Korea Air Force 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi North Korea Air Force 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi
Japan Air Force 3等空尉 Santō kūi insignia 3等空尉 Santō kūi OF-1 Lieutenant North Korea Air Force 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi North Korea Air Force 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi North Korea Air Force 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi
Japan Air Force 准空尉 Jun kūi insignia 准空尉 Jun kūi OF-1 Lieutenant North Korea Air Force 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi North Korea Air Force 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi North Korea Air Force 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi
Enlisted ranks
Japan Air Force 空曹長 Kūsōchō insignia 空曹長 Kūsōchō OR-9 Sergeant Major –
Japan Air Force 1等空曹 Ittō kūsō insignia 1等空曹 Ittō kūsō OR-8 1st Sergeant North Korea Air Force 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa insignia 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
Japan Air Force 2等空曹 Nitō kūsō insignia 2等空曹 Nitō kūsō OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class North Korea Air Force 상사 Sangsa insignia 상사 Sangsa
Japan Air Force 3等空曹 Santō kūsō insignia 3等空曹 Santō kūsō OR-6 Staff Sergeant North Korea Air Force 중사 Chungsa insignia 중사 Chungsa
Japan Air Force 空士長 Kūshichō insignia 空士長 Kūshichō OR-3 Private 1st Class North Korea Air Force 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
Japan Air Force 1等空士 Ittō kūshi insignia 1等空士 Ittō kūshi OR-2 Private North Korea Air Force 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
Japan Air Force 2等空士 Nitō kūshi insignia 2等空士 Nitō kūshi OR-1 Private North Korea Air Force 전사 Chŏnsa insignia 전사 Chŏnsa

Overview

The armed forces of Japan, known as the "Japan Self-Defense Forces" (JSDF) or "自衛隊" (Jieitai), consist of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:

  • Ground Self-Defense Force (陸上自衛隊 - Rikujou Jieitai): The Ground Self-Defense Force is responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and security.
  • Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊 - Kaijou Jieitai): The Maritime Self-Defense Force focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including destroyers, submarines, and patrol boats, to protect Japan's extensive coastline and maritime interests.
  • Air Self-Defense Force (航空自衛隊 - Koukuu Jieitai): The Air Self-Defense Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, and air defense systems ensuring air superiority and national defense.
Japan Military
Japan military personnel in dress uniforms
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🇯🇵 vs 🇨🇳 China ranks 🇯🇵 vs 🇰🇷 South Korea ranks 🇯🇵 vs 🇷🇺 Russia ranks All North Korea ranks All rank structures Japan Military Overview
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