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North Korea Weapons and Equipment
In the 1980s, in order to make the army more mobile and
mechanized, there was a steady influx of new tanks, selfpropelled artillery, armored personnel carriers (APCs), and
trucks. The ground forces seldom retire old models of weapons and
tend to maintain a large equipment stock, keeping old models
along with upgraded ones in the active force or in reserve.
Beginning in the late 1970s, North Korea began to produce a
modified version of the 115mm gunned T-62 tank, which was the
Soviet army's main battle tank in the 1960s. Based on general
trends and photography of armed forces parades, it is clear that
North Korea has made considerable modifications to the basic
Soviet and Chinese designs in its own production.
Although the majority of units remain "straight-leg" infantry
forces, that is, lacking significant motorized or mechanized
transport, the army contains a significant number of well
equipped mechanized units, with about 2,500 APCs. These mobile
forces are equipped with a mix of older Soviet-made APCs, some
Chinese-made APCs, and some indigenously produced APCs, such as
the M-1985.
Probably because of its initial Soviet tutelage and the
limited ground attack capability of the air force, great emphasis
is placed on using massive artillery firepower. North Korean
ordnance factories produce a variety of self-propelled guns,
howitzers, and gun-howitzers. In the 1980s, North Korea produced
a significant amount of self-propelled artillery, mating towed
artillery tubes with chassis already in the inventory. North
Korean strategic thought also seems to be based on the primacy of
developing an offensive capability, reflecting an appreciation
for firepower probably dating to the Korean War. Further,
P'yongyang is willing to invest the time and effort necessary for
effective defense of its ground forces from air attack and
artillery fire.
With the exception of the 170mm M-1978 Koksan gun first noted
in a parade in 1985, a new turreted self-propelled gun observed
in a 1992 parade, and perhaps a few other systems, most artillery
was developed from older Soviet and Chinese designs. All
incorporate proven technologies or components.
North Korea continues to produce a range of Soviet antitank
guns, most of them dating from 1940s and 1950s designs, and
ranging in size from 57mm through 100mm. Infantry units also are
armed with Soviet bloc-derived equipment.
The army has an extensive facility hardening program. Almost
all the forward deployed artillery can be stored in wellprotected underground emplacements. The passive defenses in the
forward corps include a large bunker complex to conceal and
protect infantry forces, mechanized units, and war matériel
stockpiles.
Data as of June 1993
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