🇰🇵
North Korea vs China Military Ranks
The North Korean Army has 24 ranks — 16 officer and 8 enlisted — from 전사 Chŏnsa up to 대원수 Tae wonsu. Below: all 64 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their Chinese equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
64
Active personnel
1.3M
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 20 of 24 matched
| 🇰🇵 North Korea · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
대원수 Tae wonsu
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
공화국원수 Konghwaguk Wonsu
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
차수 Chasu
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
대장 Daejang
|
OF-9 General |
陆军上将 (General)
|
상장 Sangjang
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
陆军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
중장 Chungjang
|
OF-7 Major General |
陆军少将 (Major General)
|
소장 Sojang
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
陆军大校 (Senior Colonel)
|
대좌 Daechwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
陆军上校 (Colonel)
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
陆军上校 (Colonel)
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
陆军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
陆军少校 (Major)
|
대위 Taewi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
陆军上尉 (Captain)
|
상위 Sangwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
중위 Chungwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
소위 Sowi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
陆军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
상사 Sangsa
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
중사 Chungsa
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
陆军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
하사 Hasa
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
陆军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant)
|
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-4 Corporal |
陆军中士 (Sergeant)
|
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
陆军下士 (Corporal)
|
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-2 Private |
陆军上等兵 (Private First Class)
|
전사 Chŏnsa
|
OR-1 Private |
陆军列兵 (Private)
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 20 of 20 matched
| 🇰🇵 North Korea · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
대장 Daejang
|
OF-9 General |
海军上将 (Admiral)
|
상장 Sangjang
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
海军中将 (Vice Admiral)
|
중장 Chungjang
|
OF-7 Major General |
海军少将 (Rear Admiral)
|
소장 Sojang
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
海军大校 (Senior Captain)
|
대좌 Daechwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
海军上校 (Captain)
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
海军上校 (Captain)
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
海军中校 (Commander)
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
海军少校 (Lieutenant Commander)
|
대위 Taewi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
海军上尉 (Lieutenant)
|
상위 Sangwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
중위 Chungwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
소위 Sowi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
海军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
상사 Sangsa
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
海军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
중사 Chungsa
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
海军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
하사 Hasa
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
海军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant)
|
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-4 Corporal |
海军中士 (Sergeant)
|
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
海军下士 (Corporal)
|
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-2 Private |
海军上等兵 (Seaman First Class)
|
전사 Chŏnsa
|
OR-1 Private | 海军列兵 (Seaman Recruit) |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 20 of 20 matched
| 🇰🇵 North Korea · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
대장 Daejang
|
OF-9 General |
空军上将 (General)
|
상장 Sangjang
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
空军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
중장 Chungjang
|
OF-7 Major General |
空军少将 (Major General)
|
소장 Sojang
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
空军大校 (Senior Colonel)
|
대좌 Daechwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
空军上校 (Colonel)
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
空军上校 (Colonel)
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
空军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
空军少校 (Major)
|
대위 Taewi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
空军上尉 (Captain)
|
상위 Sangwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
중위 Chungwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
소위 Sowi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
空军二级军士长 (Master sergeant second class)
|
상사 Sangsa
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class)
|
중사 Chungsa
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
空军一级上士 (Technical sergeant)
|
하사 Hasa
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
空军二级上士 (Staff sergeant)
|
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-4 Corporal |
空军中士 (Sergeant)
|
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
空军下士 (Corporal)
|
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-2 Private |
空军上等兵 (Airman First Class)
|
전사 Chŏnsa
|
OR-1 Private |
空军列兵 (Airman)
|
Overview
The armed forces of North Korea, officially known as the "Korean People's Army" (KPA), are under the control of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. The KPA is one of the largest standing militaries in the world and consists of several branches, each with specific roles:
- Ground Force: The Korean People's Army Ground Force is responsible for land-based military operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. The ground force is the largest component of the KPA and plays a central role in national defense.
- Navy: The Korean People's Army Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including submarines, surface ships, and patrol boats, primarily in the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula.
- Air Force: The Korean People's Army Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, and air defense systems ensuring air superiority and national defense.
- Strategic Rocket Forces: This branch is responsible for North Korea's missile forces, including long-range ballistic missiles. These missiles are a significant concern for regional and global security.
North Korea Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: 대원수 Tae wonsu, 공화국원수 Konghwaguk Wonsu, 인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu, 차수 Chasu, 대장 Daejang (Army), 상장 Sangjang (Army), 중장 Chungjang (Army), 소장 Sojang (Army), 대좌 Daechwa (Army), 상좌 Sangjwa (Army), 중좌 Chungjwa (Army), 소좌 Sojwa (Army), 대위 Taewi (Army), 상위 Sangwi (Army), 중위 Chungwi (Army), 소위 Sowi (Army), 대장 Daejang (Navy), 상장 Sangjang (Navy), 중장 Chungjang (Navy), 소장 Sojang (Navy), 대좌 Daechwa (Navy), 상좌 Sangjwa (Navy), 중좌 Chungjwa (Navy), 소좌 Sojwa (Navy), 대위 Taewi (Navy), 상위 Sangwi (Navy), 중위 Chungwi (Navy), 소위 Sowi (Navy), 대장 Daejang (Air Force), 상장 Sangjang (Air Force), 중장 Chungjang (Air Force), 소장 Sojang (Air Force), 대좌 Daechwa (Air Force), 상좌 Sangjwa (Air Force), 중좌 Chungjwa (Air Force), 소좌 Sojwa (Air Force), 대위 Taewi (Air Force), 상위 Sangwi (Air Force), 중위 Chungwi (Air Force), 소위 Sowi (Air Force)
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa (Navy), 상사 Sangsa (Navy), 중사 Chungsa (Navy), 하사 Hasa (Navy), 상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa (Navy), 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa (Navy), 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa (Navy), 전사 Chŏnsa (Navy), 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa (Air Force), 상사 Sangsa (Air Force), 중사 Chungsa (Air Force), 하사 Hasa (Air Force), 상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa (Air Force), 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa (Air Force), 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa (Air Force), 전사 Chŏnsa (Air Force)
- Source work: Blackcloud11 Derivative work: CdnMCG — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa, 상사 Sangsa, 중사 Chungsa, 하사 Hasa, 상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa, 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa, 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa, 전사 Chŏnsa