|
North Korea NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces: Armed forces known collectively as Korean
People's Army (KPA); total about 1.13 million 1993. Components
(army, approximately 1 million; navy, 40,000 to 60,000; and air
force, 70,000 to 92,000) under direction and control of President
Kim Il Sung, generalissimo and grand marshal, with political
controls parallel to party lines. Kim Jong Il commander in chief.
Special operations forces, 60,000 to 100,000. KWP Military
Affairs Committee and state National Defense Commission hold
coordinated authority of armed forces. Marshal Kim Jong Il
supreme commander of the army and chairman of National Defense
Commission, as of April 1993. Heavily militarized state; fifth
largest population under arms. Active military structure
supported by reserves (army, 500,000; air force, unknown; and
navy, 40,000) and militia of Worker-Peasant Red Guards and Red
Guard Youth numbering over 3.8 million. Estimated 20 to 25
percent of GNP in 1991 for defense expenditures, although
officially announced figure was 6 percent; 11.4 percent in 1992;
and 11.6 percent in 1993. Conscription ages twenty to twentyfive , with three years for army service and four years for navy
and air force service (other sources cite five to eight years for
army service and three to four years for navy and air force
service). All soldiers serve in reserves--estimated at 1.2
million in 1993--up to age forty, Worker-Peasant Red Guards to
age sixty, Red Guard Youth, and College Training Units.
Paramilitary Forces: Under Ministry of Public Security,
115,000 personnel, including Border Guards.
Police and Internal Security: Internal security and
maintenance of law and order centered in Ministry of Public
Security and State Security Department, two government organs
controlled by KWP through Justice and Security Commission and
penetration of party apparatus at all levels. Ministry of Public
Security responsible for internal security, social control, and
basic police duties; estimated 144,000 personnel in 1991. Public
security bureaus in each province, county, city, and some city
substations; each village has police force. Conventional and
secret police apparatus tightly controlled by KWP. Movement also
controlled.
Data as of June 1993
|
