Korean People's Navy
Encyclopedia
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 (2008) is at about 46,000. There are some 708 vessels including 3 frigate
s and 70 submarines: approximately 20 Romeo class submarines (1,800 tons), 40 Sang-O class submarine
s (300 tons) and 10 midget submarine
s including the Yono class submarine
(130 tons).
The North Korean navy is considered a green-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.
:
"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."
The 1997 edition of North Korea Country Handbook, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency, assesses the North Korean navy (NKN) as follows:
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 boat
s, 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.
(East Sea of Korea) and Yellow Sea
(West Sea)) with major and minor bases:
Some ships are domestically built at Wonsan and Nampho shipyards. Southern bases on each coasts are used to organize infiltrations into South Korea and Japan.
Junior ranks and sailors wear white shirts with black jackets and slacks (skirt for women).
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. The Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
is made up of the Ground Force, the North Korean Air Force
North Korean Air Force
The Korean People's Army Air Force, , is the name of the unified aviation forces of North Korea. The KPAF is the second-largest branch of the Korean People's Army with an estimated 110,000 personnel. It possesses between 1,600 and 1,700 aircraft of different types, mostly of Soviet and Chinese...
, 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 (2008) is at about 46,000. There are some 708 vessels including 3 frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s and 70 submarines: approximately 20 Romeo class submarines (1,800 tons), 40 Sang-O class submarine
Sang-O class submarine
The Sang-O class submarines are in use by North Korea, and are the country's largest home-built submarines. A single unit was captured by the Republic of Korea Navy after it ran aground on 18 September 1996 in the 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident...
s (300 tons) and 10 midget submarine
Midget submarine
A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation...
s including the Yono class submarine
Yono class submarine
The Yono class submarine is a class of North Korean miniature submarines, produced for domestic use as well as for export. Also referred to as Yeono class vessels, these submarines displace 130 tons, significantly less than North Korea's larger 1,800-ton Romeo class submarines...
(130 tons).
The North Korean navy is considered a green-water navy
Green-water navy
A Green-Water Navy is a naval term that refers to a naval force whose power projection capability is regional in nature. This is a relatively new terminology, as earlier non blue-water navies used to be collectively referred to as 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
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. 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.
Naval engagements of the North Korean Navy
- Battle of Chumonchin Chan
- Battle of HaejuBattle of HaejuThe Battle of Haeju was a small naval battle during the main phase of Korean War. Off Haeju Island in the Yellow Sea, on September 10, 1950, days before the Battle of Inchon, South Korean Navy patrol boat PC-703 encountered a North Korean Navy minelayer sailing vessel...
- Gangneung Infiltration1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incidentThe 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident occurred on September 18, 1996, near the South Korean town of Gangneung. The incident was one of the more serious instances of North Korean espionage involving naval forces....
- Battle of Yosu
- First Battle of Yeonpyeong
- Battle of Amami-Ōshima
- Second Battle of Yeonpyeong
- Battle of DaecheongBattle of DaecheongThe Battle of Daecheong was a skirmish between the South Korean and North Korean navies near the Northern Limit Line on 10 November 2009 off Daecheong Island...
- ROKS Cheonan sinkingROKS Cheonan sinkingThe ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen...
Organization
According to the 1997 edition of North Korea Country Handbook, published by the Defense Intelligence AgencyDefense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
:
"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
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
puts the total in 2009 at "420 warships and 60 submarines."
Inventory
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 submarineWhiskey class submarineWhiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:...
, 22 Chinese ROMEO Class submarinesRomeo class submarineThe Romeo class is a class of Soviet diesel-electric submarine, built in 1950s. The origin of the Romeo class can be traced to the World War II German Type XXI Elektroboot U-boat. At the end of World War II, the Soviets obtained several Type XXIs, from which they were able to obtain certain key...
, 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 40 knots (78 km/h) and a radius of 335 nmi (620 km) at 28 knots (55 km/h). 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
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
holds an exhibit claiming their navy to have sunk the on July 2, 1950, during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. It claims the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
was attacked and sunk by four torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s, 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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The actual battle that occurred
Action of 2 July 1950
The Battle of Chumonchin Chan or the Action of 2 July 1950 was the only major battle fought between surface combatants during the main phase of the Korean War...
on that date involved the as well as two British vessels that destroyed a fleet of Korean boats escorting supply vessels.
Bases
The KPN has 20 bases split between the two coasts (Sea of JapanSea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
(East Sea of Korea) and Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
(West Sea)) with major and minor bases:
West Sea Fleet
The western fleet has approximately 300 ships (administrative, operational and logistic support), berthing facility for Yellow Sea Fleet; home to shipyard and sub base- Pip'a-got: limited operational and logistical support to patrol craft; also home to some subs
- Sagot (Sagon-ni): home to Squadron 8
- Ch'o-do: small support base and home to Squadron 9 (Fast Attack Craft)
- Tasa-ri: small naval base
- HaejuHaejuHaeju is a city located in South Hwanghae Province near Haeju Bay in North Korea. It is the administrative centre of South Hwanghae Province. As of 2000, the population of the city is estimated to be 236,000. At the beginning of 20th century, it became a strategic port in Sino-Korean trade...
: major naval base and ship repair facility close to Demarcation Line - Kwangyang-ni
- Sunwi-do
- YomjuYomjuYomju is a kun, or county, in northwestern North Pyongan province, North Korea, on the coast of the Yellow Sea. It is bordered by Ryongchon and Pihyon to the north, Tongrim to the east, and Cholsan to the south; to the west lies the ocean...
(Yomju-gun) - Yongwi-do
East Sea Fleet
The eastern fleet has approximately 470 ships.- T'oejo-dong: base for patrol boats and 1 frigate
- WonsanWonsanWŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
(Munch'on): large maritime complex and HQ for East Fleet - Ch'aho (Ch'aho-nodongjagu) - one of two sub bases in North Korea
- Ch'angjon: home base for smaller patrol boats
- Mayangdo: operation and logistical support for submarines, antisubmarine craft, and patrol craft; one of 2 sub bases in North Korea
- Puam-ni: small base for landing craft and patrol boats
- Mugyepo: base for patrol boats, landing crafts and frigate
- Rason (Rajin): major naval operating and training centre
- Puam Dong: base for patrol boats, landing crafts
- Songjon-Pando: support base for patrol and missile boats; art of the larger Wonsan naval/maritime complex
Some ships are domestically built at Wonsan and Nampho shipyards. Southern bases on each coasts are used to organize infiltrations into South Korea and Japan.
Weapons
- MSI Yukto I/II countermeasures Silkworm missileSilkworm missileThe Shang Yo or SY-series , and the Hai Ying or HY-series were early Chinese anti-ship missiles. They were derived from the Soviet P-15 Termit missile.The HY-1 and HY-2 received the NATO reporting name Silkworm...
s P-15 TermitP-15 TermitThe P-15 Termit is an anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union's Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. Its GRAU designation was 4K40, its NATO reporting name was Styx or SS-N-2. In Russian service today it also seems to be called the Rubezh...
s 122 mm gun M1931/37 (A-19) guns - SM-4-1M-1992 130 mm self propelled gun 152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20) ML towed artillery
Uniforms
The naval officers wear black jackets and pants with blue shirt and dark tie underneath. Their visor caps are from the Soviet era. In summer jackets are white.Junior ranks and sailors wear white shirts with black jackets and slacks (skirt for women).
See also
- Northern Limit LineNorthern Limit LineThe Northern Limit Line or North Limit Line is a disputed inter-Korea maritime demarcation line in the Yellow Sea between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the north, and the Republic of Korea on the south...
- Korean Demilitarized ZoneKorean Demilitarized ZoneThe Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
- Defense Industry of North Korea
- Military of South KoreaMilitary of South KoreaThe Republic of Korea Armed Forces or ROK Armed Forces, is the armed forces of the Republic of Korea...
- South Korean Navy