The
Korean People's Army Naval Force is the
navy of
North Korea. The
Korean People's Army is made up of the
Ground Force, the
North Korean Air Force, and the Navy. It was established on
June 5,
1946. The navy strength in the 1990s was about 40,000 to 60,000; current strength is at about 46,000. There are some 650 vessels including 3 frigates and 23 submarines (total displacement of approx. 107,000 tons).
The North Korean navy is considered a
brown-water navy and operates mainly within the 50 kilometer exclusion zone. The fleet consists of east and west coast squadrons, which cannot support each other in the event of war with
South Korea. The limited range of most of the vessels means that even in peacetime it is impossible for a ship on one coast to visit the other coast.
History
Naval engagements of the North Korean Navy
Organization
According to the 1997 edition of
North Korea Country Handbook, published by the
US Marine Corps Intelligence Activity:
"The 146,000-man [North Korean navy (NKN)] is primarily a coastal navy. The NKN is organized into two fleets: the East Coast Fleet, with eight operational commands, and the West Coast Fleet, with five operational commands. The East Coast Fleet is headquartered at Toejo Dong, with major bases at Najin and Wonsan. The West Coast Fleet is headquartered at Nampo,
39 with major bases at Pipagot and Sagon Ni. Numerous smaller naval bases are located along both coasts. The fleets do not exchange vessels because geographical limitations make mutual support almost impossible. The NKN does not have a Marine Corps or naval air. Amphibious operations are conducted by SOF units in addition to naval personnel."
According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (in 1999):
"The DPRK Navy is divided into East Sea (10 squadrons) and West Sea fleets (6 squadrons) with a total manpower of 148,000.
North Korea's fleet consist of approximately 630 combat vessels (Patrol craft, guided missile boats, torpedo boats, fire support craft, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and three cruisers), 100 submarines, and 340 support craft (landing craft, hovercraft). As with the ground forces, 60% of the vessels are stationed near the demarcation line.
North Korea has constructed and is operating up to 130 hovercraft, each one capable of transporting a special forces platoon and operating freely in difficult terrain such as tidal flats, and able to be used for multiple landings by special forces troops at the onset of the war."
The Times puts the total in 2009 at "420 warships and 60 submarines."
Inventory
The 1997 edition of
North Korea Country Handbook, published by the US Marine Corps Intelligence Activity, assesses the North Korean navy (NKN) as follows:
Most NKN vessels are small patrol-size craft unable to operate over 50
nautical miles (nm) from the coast but capable of policing the DPRK's
territorial waters. The navy's numerous amphibious craft and midget
submarines are intended to clandestinely insert SOF units into the ROK.
The DPRK also maintains coastal defense artillery and missile sites.
Coastal defense artillery includes 122 mm, 130 mm, and 152 mm systems.
Land-based coastal defense missiles include the SSC-2B SAMLET,
CSSC-2 SILKWORM, and CSSC-3 SEERSUCKER.
The NKN's most capable weapons systems are their approximately 43
guided-missile patrol boats equipped with the SS-N-2A STYX antiship
missile (or its Chinese version, the CSS-N-1 SCRUBBRUSH). Though
their small size limits operations to coastal waters and calm seas, they
have a capability to quickly respond to Combined Forces Command
(CFC) shipping approaching the coast. The NKN has 12 OSA-1 guidedmissile
patrol boats, 10 DPRK versions of the OSA-1 called the SOJU,
and 19 other fast-attack missile craft; the OSA and SOJU are all
equipped with four CSS-N-1 missile launchers. The missiles have a
maximum range of 25 nm and carry radar or infrared homing seekers.
The largest part of the NKN consists of small combatants, including torpedo
boats, patrol boats, patrol craft, fast attack craft, and small amphibious
landing craft. Of the approximately 200 torpedo boats, nearly half
are DPRK-built. Most are equipped with 25 mm to 37 mm guns. The
DPRK built at least 62 CHAHO fire-support patrol units. This unique
vessel has a multiple rocket launcher in the center of its deck to provide
fire support to ground troops or attack surface ships.
The DPRK's attack submarine inventory is estimated to include 4
former Soviet WHISKEY Class, 22 Chinese ROMEO Class, and
DPRK-built ROMEO Class submarines. The WHISKEYs, acquired in
the 1960s, can carry 12 torpedoes or 24 mines. Shortly after delivering
four ROMEOs in the early 1970s, China helped the DPRK start its own
ROMEO construction program. The ROMEOs are well equipped, have
an improved sonar, and can carry 14 torpedoes or 28 mines.
To date, the DPRK has indigenously produced over 200 personnel landing
craft. This includes approximately 100 NAMPO personnel landing
craft based on a former Soviet P-6 torpedo boat hull. The NAMPO has a
maximum speed of and a radius of at . The
NAMPOs provide a limited amphibious capability, each carrying up to
30 troops with a basic combat load. Amphibious assaults against CFC
probably would be small, clandestine landings involving two to six
NAMPO craft; CHAHO or other naval craft could provide fire support.
Other amphibious craft include 8 HANTAE medium landing ships,
which can carry 3 to 4 light tanks, and approximately 125 KONG
BANG amphibious hovercraft.
The DPRK has a credible mine warfare capability. There are numerous
small surface ships that are capable of delivering mines within both the
navy and civilian sectors. Mines will be used to defend against amphibious
assaults, defend strategic ports, and provide seaward flank protection
for land forces. Defensive mine fields will be monitored by coastal
observation teams and radar, and they will be supported by well
emplaced artillery and missile batteries. This will make close approach
and mine clearing operations extremely hazardous. DPRK has a large
inventory of older technology mines, significant historical experience
with their effectiveness, and, most importantly, the willingness to use
them.
Propaganda
thumb|Propaganda poster claiming to have sunk the A military museum in
Pyongyang holds an exhibit claiming their navy to have sunk the on July 2, 1950, during the
Korean War. It claims the
cruiser was attacked and sunk by four
torpedo boats, of which one is currently preserved in the museum. In fact, the
Baltimore was never deployed to Korea, nor did it see action again after
World War II. The
actual battle that occurred on that date involved the as well as two British vessels that destroyed a fleet of Korean boats escorting supply vessels.
Fleet
Weapons
- M-1992 130 mm self propelled gun
Uniforms
The naval officers wear black jackets and pants with blue shirt and dark tie underneath. Their visor caps are from the Soviet era.
Junior ranks and sailors wear white shirts with black slacks.
See also
