When the army becomes the meaning of the country's existence
The history of the DPRK is very peculiar. This explains to a large extent the uniqueness of the country in its current form.
It is still unclear why the USSR did not claim part of the defeated Japan in 1945, giving all of it to the United States. Then it would be logical if the USSR got the entire Korean peninsula liberated from the Japanese. But it was just divided with the USA. Moreover, Moscow got North Korea, where right-wing nationalists were strong. And the south, dominated by leftists, including Communists, went to Washington. As a result, the winners "broke through the knee" each of their prey.
At the same time, each of the Koreas considered the other Korea illegal. Which, in general, was logical: the separation was artificial and imposed from the outside.
THE BIRTH OF THE KOREAN PEOPLE'S ARMY
Almost until the end of the 1950s, the USSR was the only supplier of military equipment for the DPRK Armed Forces. Before the Korean War and during the war, the Korean People's Army (KPA) received T-34–85 tanks, BTR-40/152, 122-mm guns A-19 and M-30 and 152-mm ML-20, 120-mm mortars M-43, "Katyusha" BM-13, 100-mm anti-tank guns (PTO) BS-3, self-propelled PTO SU-76, anti-aircraft guns (57-mm S-60 and 100-mm KS-19). On the SU-76 chassis in the DPRK itself, a small number of its own ZSU was manufactured by installing 23-mm or 37-mm guns.
At the expense of Soviet supplies, the North Korean Air Force was created. At first, they included piston-engined aircraft of the Second World War and the first post-war years: Tu-2 bombers, Il-10 attack aircraft, Yak-9, La-9 and La-11 fighters, Po-2 night bombers, Li-2 transport aircraft. They were supplemented by Yak-11 and Yak-18 training aircraft, which could also be night bombers. Deliveries of An-2 transport aircraft and Mi-1 helicopters have begun. The main acquisition was up to 200 MiG-15 jet fighters.
The Navy received torpedo boats of project 123, some of them were built in the DPRK itself after the end of the war. At the same time, the KPA lost the war, losing almost all ground equipment. The Air Force lost at least 11 Il-10s, eight La-9s, 30 Yak-9s, three Yak-18s, seven Po-2s, and several MiG-15s. The overall outcome of the war was secured by the divisions of the People's Liberation Army of China under the cover of Soviet MiG-15s.
After the war, until the end of the 1950s, Moscow supplied Pyongyang with 200-mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) BMD-20 and 240-mm BM-24, Il-28 jet bombers, MiG-17 fighters, Il-12 transport aircraft. The DPRK Navy received torpedo boats 183 ave., minesweepers, patrol boats 201 ave. (the latter were partially built in the DPRK itself). In addition, in the late 1950s, the DPRK received aviation equipment from China - the same Il–28 (in the Chinese version of the H-5), MiG-15 and MiG-17 (in the Chinese version of the J-5), Yak-18 (in the Chinese version of the CJ-5). Deliveries of the Y-5, a Chinese copy of the AN-2, have also begun.
BETWEEN MOSCOW AND BEIJING
In the 1960s, Soviet-Chinese relations began to deteriorate. This has put Pyongyang in a difficult position. Politically, he was leaning towards Beijing. But too strong rapprochement created the danger of the actual occupation of the DPRK by China. And technologically, China lagged far behind the USSR and could not give Pyongyang weapons of the right quality and in the right quantity. Therefore, the DPRK maintained a balance in relations with the PRC and the USSR, developing its own military-industrial complex and reducing dependence on arms imports.
Soviet supplies of the 1960s laid the foundation for the modern KPA. The DPRK ground forces received IS-2 tanks and floating PT-76, floating BTR-50, 122-mm guns D-74 and D-30 and 130-mm guns M-46, self-propelled PT SU-100, MLRS BM-14, and then BM-21 "Grad", and also towed MLRS RPU-14. In addition, the T-54 tanks began to enter the troops, 300 of them were produced in the DPRK itself (since 1967). Also in the DPRK, the production of the Chinese towed 107-mm MLRS Tour 63 was started. The ground air defense received 41 divisions of the S-75 air defense system, as well as 250 ZSU-57–2, and on the chassis of Chinese Ture 59 tanks (a copy of the Soviet T-54).
The DPRK Air Force acquired MiG-19 fighters, and then MiG-21F-13/PFM with K–13 air-to-air missiles, Il-14 transport aircraft, Mi-4 helicopters. The Navy received four submarines pr. 613, 12 missile boats pr. 205 with PKR P-15, two minesweepers pr. 254, nine divisions of coastal anti-missile complexes "Sopka" and at least 12 130-mm coastal guns SM-4–1B. Another 15 torpedo boats of pr. 183 came from China. In the DPRK itself, the construction of corvettes of the Sariwon type (based on Soviet minesweepers) and ultra-small submarines of the Yono type (based on the Yugoslav Yugo) has begun.
In the 1970s, the KPA received tactical Luna missiles from the USSR, T-55 and T-62 tanks, BMP-1 and BTR-60PB, 152-mm D-20 guns, licensed production of the Malyutka ATGM under the local name "Pulse-1", and then "Fagot" began under the name "Pulse-2".
Tour 59 tanks and Tour 62 light tanks arrived from China. The production of Chinese tracked armored personnel carriers Ture 63 under the local name "73" (also known as VTT-323) began. For ground-based air defense in the USSR, ZSU–23-4 "Shilka" were purchased, licensed production of portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) "Strela-2" began. The Air Force received Su-7B attack aircraft and MiG-21PFM fighters, Mi-2 helicopters (produced in Poland), Chinese CJ-6 training aircraft.
The DPRK Navy received more than 20 Soviet missile (pr. 183R and pr. 205) and torpedo (pr. 123 and pr. 206) and up to 30 Chinese patrol boats (pr. 037 and pr. 062), at least six divisions of the Chinese coastal PKRK HY-1. According to the Chinese license, the construction of the PL. 033 was carried out (the series was 23 PL). Four frigates of the Najin type were built (based on the Soviet patrol ships of 42 Ave.), dozens of torpedo, patrol and amphibious boats (partly according to their own projects).
In the 1970s, the creation of their own artillery systems began, which, as a rule, were based on Soviet and Chinese models. A large family of self-propelled guns "Tokchen" appeared on the chassis of the Soviet artillery tractor ATS-59. Soviet towed guns were installed in the body – 100-mm BS-3, 122-mm D-74 and D-30, 130-mm CM-4–1 and M-46, 152-mm D-20. Sometimes such self-propelled guns were also equipped with MANPADS. The 170-mm self-propelled gun "Juche-po" (the Western name of the M-1978 "Koksan") with an open gun arrangement on the chassis of the T-54, T-62, Ture 59 tanks became its own project. The maximum firing range of the gun is 40-60 km . It is unclear how many of these self–propelled guns have been produced, the bill goes to hundreds or even thousands.
The North Korean military industrial complex began producing 82-mm, 120-mm and 140-mm mortars, 122-mm (30- and 40-barrel), 200-mm (4-barrel), 240-mm (12-, 18-, 22-barrel) MLRS. The most famous is the 30-barrel 122-mm MLRS BM-11 (the chassis for it is a Japanese truck). The firing range of the 240-mm MLRS reaches 50 km.
Based on the Chinese BTR Tour 63 and its local variant "73", special chassis were created, known as the M-1978 and M-1984. 122-mm and 130-mm guns, as well as short-range air defense systems were installed on these chassis and on the BTR "73" itself: 14.5-mm machine guns, 37-mm 61-K guns, Strela-2 MANPADS.
In the 1980s, the DPRK ground forces received the BMP-1 from the USSR, 130-mm Toure 59-1 guns (based on the M-46) and 130-mm Toure 63 MLRS from China. Under the Soviet license, 470 T-62 tanks were produced under the name "Chonma". In the DPRK, a light floating tank PT-85 was created, equipped with an 85-mm cannon. Ground air defense received six divisions of the S-125 air defense system from the USSR, two divisions of the S-200 air defense system, HN-5 MANPADS (a copy of the Strela-2) came from China.
The Air Force received Soviet Su-25 and Chinese Q-5 attack aircraft, Soviet MiG-23ML and MiG-29 fighters (with R–23, R-27, R-60 air-to-air missiles), Chinese J-6 and J-7, Soviet Mi-24D attack helicopters and multipurpose Mi-8/14/17. The DPRK illegally acquired 87 American Hughes-500 multipurpose helicopters through Germany. The Navy received two more missile boats pr. 205 and four similar Chinese pr. 021.
The export of North Korean weapons has sharply intensified since the 1980s. Ballistic missiles (primarily Hwasong-6 and Hwasong-7) were and remain the main commodity. Tehran became the most important buyer of military equipment, in particular, it acquired at least 20 self-propelled artillery units (ACS) "Juche-po". Several of these self-propelled guns were captured by Iraqi forces and ended up in the United States. In general, up to two dozen countries and groups have become buyers of North Korean weapons.
SOLO SWIMMING
The collapse of the USSR and natural disasters in the DPRK itself put the country in a difficult position. But the regime resisted. In the early 1990s, all Chinese troops and military facilities were withdrawn from the DPRK, military-technical cooperation with the PRC ceased. Russia has fulfilled the remaining orders from the USSR for the supply and licensed production of missiles (including the Igla-1 MANPADS) and MiG-29 fighters. In the mid-1990s, four Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters were delivered to the DPRK. In the early 2000s - 32 BTR–80A, on the basis of which its own BTR "69" (also known as M-2010) was created. In the late 1990s, 24 KS-19 anti-aircraft guns and 34 MiG-21bis fighters were smuggled from Kazakhstan (six more were confiscated by Azerbaijan). It is possible that several divisions of the S-300PT air defense system were illegally received from Ukraine. At this point, Pyongyang stopped importing weapons due to lack of funds and international sanctions.
But his own military-industrial complex was actively working. In 2006, the DPRK conducted the first nuclear tests, then ballistic missiles were created in the country – medium-range and intercontinental (" The strategic arsenal of North Korea ", "HBO", 03.04.20).
In the 1990s-2000s, at least five modifications of the T-62 ("Chonma-2/98/214/215/216") were created with a gradual increase in armor protection. Since about 2009, the Songun-915 tank, a kind of synthesis of the T-62, T-72, T-80 and even, possibly, the T-90, has been in service. It is equipped with a 125 mm cannon, the anti-aircraft machine gun has a caliber of 14.5 mm instead of 12.7 mm, as on the vast majority of tanks. The tank carries two launchers (PU) ATGM "Pulse-3" (obviously, an analogue of the Russian "Cornet" or an improved "Bassoon") and a paired PU MANPADS "Hwa Son Chon" (obviously, an analogue of the "Needle"). In this regard, the North Korean tank has no analogues in the world.
In total, about 100 tanks are produced in the DPRK per year. A tracked armored personnel carrier "98", reminiscent of the Soviet MTLB, was adopted, a paired 14.5-mm machine gun was installed in the tower (the armored personnel carrier "69" has similar weapons).
In addition to ballistic missiles based on outdated technologies, there are also new shorter-range missiles that look very modern. The missile, known as the KN-23, looks very similar to the Russian Iskander OTR, the Hwasong-11A (KN-24) missile is similar to the American ATACMS. Long-range MLRS are being created, for example, clearly related to the Russian Smerch and the Chinese WS-1 8-barrel 300-mm MLRS, known as the KN-09. Four missiles are carried by the North Korean MLRS, known as the KN-25. The caliber of these missiles can be 600 mm, the flight range is 380 km, that is, perhaps, it is the most powerful MLRS in the world.
ATGM "Pulse-4" is known in a self–propelled version - eight missiles on the chassis of the BTR "69". Apparently, it can be used outside the line of sight, like the Israeli "Spike-NLOS". Similar ATGMs have been created only in China and Serbia. It is possible that the DPRK borrowed technology from one of these countries.
The DPRK has developed a number of short-range air defense systems. For example, in the ZSU "Shilka" 23-mm guns were replaced with paired 30-mm or 57-mm. The most modern short-range air defense system was the version of the "Arrow–10" or "Pine" - eight NT-16PGJ MANPADS (derived from the "Needle") are mounted on the MTLB chassis.
The DPRK Armed Forces are armed with the Pong-5 air defense system (Western name KN-06), apparently created on the basis of the Soviet S-300P (although two or three missiles, not four, are placed on the PU of the Korean system). Presumably, the radar was created on the basis of the Soviet 5N63 (RPN in the S-300PT/PS divisions), and the missile defense system is based on the Soviet 5V55K or 5V55R missiles, the very first missiles for the S-300PT /PS. It is unclear whether the Korean air defense system uses the principle of "guidance through a missile", as in the S-300. It is believed that the KPA air defense system is armed with 156 PU ZRS KN-06. If there are 12 PU in the division of this air defense system, as in the S-300 division, this means that the number of divisions reaches 13.
According to its own project, at least 40 small submarines of the Sang-O type have been built in the DPRK (they have four 533-mm torpedo tubes each). Apparently, one of them in 2010 sank the South Korean corvette "Cheong An" (" Lessons "Cheon An ", "HBO", 02.04.10). At least one Sinpo-type submarine, which carries the Pukkynson-1 (KN-11) ballistic missile, has now been commissioned. This SLBM, apparently, is based on the KN-23. Also, the fleet received the Kumson-3 (KN-19) PKR, which, apparently, was copied from the Russian X-35. This RCC is installed on the most modern surface ships – corvettes of the Nampo type (two units) and missile boats of the Nongo type (at least six units). The latter can also be built in torpedo and sentry versions. Boats of the "Nongo" type are skeg, their speed is about 50 knots. According to this technology, only Russian Bora-type MRCS and Norwegian Skjeld-type boats have been built in the world.
The DPRK has not achieved success only in the aircraft industry. But the overall technological level of its military-industrial complex is very high. Under the conditions of sanctions and financial restrictions, he is able not only to copy foreign samples, but also to create his own, some of them have few analogues in the world. This allows you to maintain a high combat capability of the KPA. These are the fruits of the political principles of juche ("self-reliance") and songun ("the army comes first").
Alexander Khramchikhin
Alexander Anatolyevich Khramchikhin is an independent military expert.