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🇰🇵
Ranks· 🇰🇵 North Korea

North Korea vs Taiwan 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 Taiwanese equivalents.

Branches
3
Ranks documented
64
Active personnel
1.3M

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 19 of 24 matched
🇰🇵 North Korea · Army NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
North Korea Army 대원수 Tae wonsu insignia 대원수 Tae wonsu OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army –
North Korea Army  공화국원수 Konghwaguk Wonsu insignia 공화국원수 Konghwaguk Wonsu OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army –
North Korea Army 인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu insignia 인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army –
North Korea Army 차수 Chasu insignia 차수 Chasu OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army –
North Korea Army 대장 Daejang insignia 대장 Daejang OF-9 General Taiwan Army 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng insignia 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng Taiwan Army 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng insignia 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng
North Korea Army 상장 Sangjang insignia 상장 Sangjang OF-8 Lieutenant General Taiwan Army 中將 Zhōngjiàng insignia 中將 Zhōngjiàng
North Korea Army 중장 Chungjang insignia 중장 Chungjang OF-7 Major General Taiwan Army 少將 Shaojiàng insignia 少將 Shaojiàng
North Korea Army 소장 Sojang insignia 소장 Sojang OF-6 Brigadier General –
North Korea Army 대좌 Daechwa insignia 대좌 Daechwa OF-5 Colonel Taiwan Army 上校 Shàngxiào insignia 上校 Shàngxiào
North Korea Army 상좌 Sangjwa insignia 상좌 Sangjwa OF-5 Colonel Taiwan Army 上校 Shàngxiào insignia 上校 Shàngxiào
North Korea Army 중좌 Chungjwa insignia 중좌 Chungjwa OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel Taiwan Army 中校 Zhōngxiào insignia 中校 Zhōngxiào
North Korea Army 소좌 Sojwa insignia 소좌 Sojwa OF-3 Major / Commandant Taiwan Army 少校 Shàoxiào insignia 少校 Shàoxiào
North Korea Army 대위 Taewi insignia 대위 Taewi OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant Taiwan Army 上尉 Shàngwèi insignia 上尉 Shàngwèi
North Korea Army 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Army 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Army 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
North Korea Army 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Army 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Army 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
North Korea Army 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Army 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Army 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
Enlisted ranks
North Korea Army 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa insignia 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa OR-8 1st Sergeant Taiwan Army 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng
North Korea Army 상사 Sangsa insignia 상사 Sangsa OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class Taiwan Army 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng
North Korea Army 중사 Chungsa insignia 중사 Chungsa OR-6 Staff Sergeant Taiwan Army 上士 Shàngshi insignia 上士 Shàngshi
North Korea Army 하사 Hasa insignia 하사 Hasa OR-5 Sergeant Taiwan Army 中士 Zhōngshi insignia 中士 Zhōngshi
North Korea Army 상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa OR-4 Corporal Taiwan Army 下士 Xiàshi insignia 下士 Xiàshi
North Korea Army 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa OR-3 Private 1st Class Taiwan Army 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng insignia 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng
North Korea Army 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa OR-2 Private Taiwan Army 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng insignia 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng
North Korea Army 전사 Chŏnsa insignia 전사 Chŏnsa OR-1 Private Taiwan Army 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng insignia 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 19 of 20 matched
🇰🇵 North Korea · Air Force NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
North Korea Air Force 대장 Daejang insignia 대장 Daejang OF-9 General Taiwan Air Force 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng insignia 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng Taiwan Air Force 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng insignia 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng
North Korea Air Force 상장 Sangjang insignia 상장 Sangjang OF-8 Lieutenant General Taiwan Air Force 中將 Zhōngjiàng insignia 中將 Zhōngjiàng
North Korea Air Force 중장 Chungjang insignia 중장 Chungjang OF-7 Major General Taiwan Air Force 少將 Shaojiàng insignia 少將 Shaojiàng
North Korea Air Force 소장 Sojang insignia 소장 Sojang OF-6 Brigadier General –
North Korea Air Force 대좌 Daechwa insignia 대좌 Daechwa OF-5 Colonel Taiwan Air Force 上校 Shàngxiào insignia 上校 Shàngxiào
North Korea Air Force 상좌 Sangjwa insignia 상좌 Sangjwa OF-5 Colonel Taiwan Air Force 上校 Shàngxiào insignia 上校 Shàngxiào
North Korea Air Force 중좌 Chungjwa insignia 중좌 Chungjwa OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel Taiwan Air Force 中校 Zhōngxiào insignia 中校 Zhōngxiào
North Korea Air Force 소좌 Sojwa insignia 소좌 Sojwa OF-3 Major / Commandant Taiwan Air Force 少校 Shàoxiào insignia 少校 Shàoxiào
North Korea Air Force 대위 Taewi insignia 대위 Taewi OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant Taiwan Air Force 上尉 Shàngwèi insignia 上尉 Shàngwèi
North Korea Air Force 상위 Sangwi insignia 상위 Sangwi OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Air Force 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Air Force 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
North Korea Air Force 중위 Chungwi insignia 중위 Chungwi OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Air Force 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Air Force 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
North Korea Air Force 소위 Sowi insignia 소위 Sowi OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Air Force 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Air Force 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
Enlisted ranks
North Korea Air Force 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa insignia 특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa OR-8 1st Sergeant Taiwan Air Force 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng
North Korea Air Force 상사 Sangsa insignia 상사 Sangsa OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class Taiwan Air Force 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng
North Korea Air Force 중사 Chungsa insignia 중사 Chungsa OR-6 Staff Sergeant Taiwan Air Force 上士 Shàngshi insignia 上士 Shàngshi
North Korea Air Force 하사 Hasa insignia 하사 Hasa OR-5 Sergeant Taiwan Air Force 中士 Zhōngshi insignia 中士 Zhōngshi
North Korea Air Force 상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa OR-4 Corporal Taiwan Air Force 下士 Xiàshi insignia 下士 Xiàshi
North Korea Air Force 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa OR-3 Private 1st Class Taiwan Air Force 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng insignia 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng
North Korea Air Force 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa insignia 하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa OR-2 Private Taiwan Air Force 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng insignia 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng
North Korea Air Force 전사 Chŏnsa insignia 전사 Chŏnsa OR-1 Private Taiwan Air Force 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng insignia 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng

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
North Korea military personnel in dress uniforms
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