Image source: Photo: KCNA
In recent years, when talking about the armed forces of the DPRK, they usually recall nuclear weapons, various ballistic missiles, multiple rocket launchers, new generation tanks and long-range artillery.
At the same time, the army of our neighbors is also interesting because it has some of the largest special forces formations in the world, around which there is a lot of speculation.
Image source: Photo: KCNA
As Yuri Lyamin, a senior researcher at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), notes, indeed, there are numerous special forces in the DPRK, but often their entire light infantry is called that, and this is up to 200 thousand military personnel.
However, the real special operations forces there are the 11th corps, which can estimated to number 60-70 thousand people. At the same time, it includes various brigades and separate units: from stormtroopers and paratroopers to reconnaissance saboteurs.
Image source: Photo: KCNA
Their training, physical, fire and command training are highly appreciated, it is not for nothing that North Korean instructors are well spoken of in all countries, although they have not had combat experience for a very long time.
The special forces of the DPRK have various novelties of the local defense industry, such as machine guns with screw magazines and automatic grenade launchers, but, as a rule, conventional machine guns are used, and all of the above is usually available to individual military personnel in units or used to perform certain tasks if necessary.
Image source: Photo: KCNA
"It is interesting that the term of conscription in the DPRK ranges from 5 to 12 years. Moreover, the special operations forces have a maximum service life," Lyamin noted.
Image source: Photo: KCNA
Lev Romanov
