🇰🇵
North Korea vs Japan 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 Japanese equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
64
Active personnel
1.3M
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 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 |
幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō
|
상장 Sangjang
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
陸将 Rikushō
|
중장 Chungjang
|
OF-7 Major General |
陸将補 Rikushō-ho
|
소장 Sojang
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
대좌 Daechwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等陸佐 Santō rikusa
|
대위 Taewi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等陸尉 Ittō rikui
|
상위 Sangwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
중위 Chungwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
소위 Sowi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō
|
상사 Sangsa
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō
|
중사 Chungsa
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等陸曹 Santō rikusō
|
하사 Hasa
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
陸士長 Rikushichō
|
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-2 Private |
1等陸士 Ittō rikushi
|
전사 Chŏnsa
|
OR-1 Private |
2等陸士 Nitō rikushi
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 20 matched
| 🇰🇵 North Korea · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
대장 Daejang
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる海将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō
|
상장 Sangjang
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
海将 Kaishō
|
중장 Chungjang
|
OF-7 Major General |
海将補 Kaishō-ho
|
소장 Sojang
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
대좌 Daechwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等海佐 Ittō kaisa
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等海佐 Ittō kaisa
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等海佐 Nitō kaisa
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等海佐 Santō kaisa
|
대위 Taewi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等海尉 Ittō kaii
|
상위 Sangwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
3等海尉 Santō kaii
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
중위 Chungwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
3等海尉 Santō kaii
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
소위 Sowi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
3等海尉 Santō kaii
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等海曹 Ittō kaisō
|
상사 Sangsa
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等海曹 Nitō kaisō
|
중사 Chungsa
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等海曹 Santō kaisō
|
하사 Hasa
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
海士長 Kaishichō
|
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-2 Private |
1等海士 Ittō kaishi
|
전사 Chŏnsa
|
OR-1 Private |
2等海士 Nitō kaishi
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 20 matched
| 🇰🇵 North Korea · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
대장 Daejang
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō
|
상장 Sangjang
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
空将 Kūshō
|
중장 Chungjang
|
OF-7 Major General |
空将補 Kūshō-ho
|
소장 Sojang
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
대좌 Daechwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等空佐 Ittō kūsa
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等空佐 Ittō kūsa
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等空佐 Nitō kūsa
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等空佐 Santō kūsa
|
대위 Taewi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等空尉 Ittō kūi
|
상위 Sangwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
3等空尉 Santō kūi
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
중위 Chungwi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
3等空尉 Santō kūi
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
소위 Sowi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
3等空尉 Santō kūi
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等空曹 Ittō kūsō
|
상사 Sangsa
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等空曹 Nitō kūsō
|
중사 Chungsa
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等空曹 Santō kūsō
|
하사 Hasa
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
空士長 Kūshichō
|
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
|
OR-2 Private |
1等空士 Ittō kūshi
|
전사 Chŏnsa
|
OR-1 Private |
2等空士 Nitō kūshi
|
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