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'The North Korean Ground Forces' in 1960 may have totalled fewer than 400,000 persons and probably did not rise much above that figure before 1972. The force expanded relentlessly over the next two decades; in 1992, there were approximately 1 million personnel. Before this expansion of North Korean Force, South Korean Army outnumbered North Korean Army. From 1970's on, South Korea started exceeding North Korea on economic view; hence, South Korea could modernized its forces, which alerted North Korea and resulted in inflation of North Korean Forces. Ironically, in two Koreas war front, the weaker of two has maintained larger armed forces. The size, organization, disposition, and combat capabilities of the army give P'yongyang military options both for offensive operations to reunify the peninsula and for credible defensive operations against any perceived threat from South Korea. Militaries that experience such growth also provide great upward mobility for their officers.
The army initially was organized along Chinese and Soviet concepts. Over time, this organization has adjusted to the unique circumstances of the military problem the KPA faces and to the evolution of North Korean military doctrine and thought.
The overwhelming majority of active ground forces is deployed in three
echelons—a forward operational echelon of four infantry corps; supported by a
second operational echelon of two mechanized corps, the armor corps, and an artillery corps; and a strategic reserve of the two remaining mechanized corps and
the other artillery corps. These forces are garrisoned along major north-south
lines of communication that provide rapid, easy access to avenues of approach
into South Korea. The KPA has positioned massive numbers of artillery pieces,
especially its longer-range systems, close to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that
separates the two Koreas.

Contents

Equipment

See Also

External links

Equipment

The Ground Forces have a mixed of domestic and imported equipment in their inventory. Prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, most of these items were Soviet made and later copied- Soviet variants from China.
''Tanks''
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Name
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Country of Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In Service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Type 59
| Main Battle Tank
|
| 500
|
|-----
| T-62
| Main Battle Tank
|
| 800
|
|-----
| T-54
| Main Battle Tank
|
| 1600
|
|-----
| T-34
| Medium Tank
|
| 250
|
|-----
| PT-85 (Type-82)
| Amphibious Tank
|
| N/A
| based on the VTT-323 APC chassis
|-----
| PT-76
| Amphibious Tank
|
| 550
|
|-----
| Type 62
| Light Tank
|
| 50?
|
|-----
| M-2002
| Main Battle Tank
|
| ?
| Based on T-90
|}
''Armoured Personnel Carrier''
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Name
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Country of Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In Service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| BMP-1
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle
|
|
|
|-----
| BA-64
| Armored Car
|
|
|
|-----
| VTT-323
| Armored Personnel Carrier
| //
|
|
|-----
| YW-531
| Armored Personnel Carrier
|
|
|
|-----
| BTR-60
| Armored Personnel Carrier
|
|
|
|-----
| BTR-50P
| Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier
|
|
|
|-----
| BTR-40
| Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier
|
|
|
|-----
| BTR-152
| Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier
|
|
|
|}
''Artillery and Guns''
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Name
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Country of Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In Service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| M-1974
| 152mm SP gun-howitzer
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1985
| 152mm gun-howitzer
|
|
| D-20/M-55; Type 83
|-----
| M-1975
| 130mm self-propelled gun
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1992
| 130mm self propelled gun
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1981
| 122mm self-propelled gun
|
|
| Type 54 SPH
|-----
| M-1991
| 122mm self-propelled howitzer
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1992
| 120mm self propelled combination gun
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1992
| anti-air gun
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1985
| 240mm Rocket Launcher
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1991
| 240mm Rocket Launcher
|
|
|
|-----
| M-1985
| 122mm multiple rocket launcher
|
|
|
|-----
| BM-11
| 122mm multiple rocket launcher
|
|
|
|-----
| Type-63
| 107mm multiple rocket launcher
|
|
|
|}

See Also

★ Korean People's Army

★ North Korean Air Force

★ North Korean Navy

External links

★ North Korean Army Equipment

★ North Korean Army Units

★ North Korean Air Force Equipment

★ Equipment Inventory