North Korean Arms Industry
Encyclopedia
North Korea's defense industry predate the Korean War. After the war, North Korea began to expand its arms production base through licensing agreements with the Soviet Union. North Korea initially depended on the Soviet Union and China for licensed technology and complete industrial plants. In the 1970s, North Korea was developing variants of standard Soviet and Chinese equipment. Acquisitions from these two sources were augmented beginning in the early 1970s by an outreach program aimed at acquiring Western dual-use technology and equipment. This program included a wide range of initiatives, from acquiring Japanese trucks and electronic gear to obtaining Austrian forging equipment with gun barrel applications, to purchasing United States-manufactured helicopters. North Korea compensates for its limited research and development base by producing a range of more basic systems in quantity.
By the end of the 1990s, it was estimated that North Korea's military-industrial complex operated a diverse array of production plants numbering some 1800 facilities. Among them were forty small arms plants, ten armored vehicle factories, ten shipyards for combat vessels, and fifty explosives facilities. Most of the facilities are located in Chagang Province and other remote inland areas, and are partially or wholly underground to minimize damage in war.
By the end of the 1990s, it was estimated that North Korea's military-industrial complex operated a diverse array of production plants numbering some 1800 facilities. Among them were forty small arms plants, ten armored vehicle factories, ten shipyards for combat vessels, and fifty explosives facilities. Most of the facilities are located in Chagang Province and other remote inland areas, and are partially or wholly underground to minimize damage in war.
Pistols
- TT-33TT-33The TT-30 is a Russian semi-automatic pistol. It was developed in the early 1930s by Fedor Tokarev as a service pistol for the Soviet military to replace the Nagant M1895 revolver that had been in use since tsarist times, though it never fully replaced the M1895.-Development:In 1930, the...
pistol- Type 68 - Heavily modified North Korean version.
- CZ-75 pistol
- "Paektusan"
Rifles
- SKSSKSThe SKS is a Soviet semi-automatic rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm round, designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. SKS-45 is an acronym for Samozaryadnyj Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945 Simonov system, 1945), or SKS 45. The Sks is a scaled down version of the PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle also...
Rifle- Type 63 - North Korean version.
- AK-47AK-47The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
Copy of 3rd pattern AK-47- Type 58A fixed stock and Type 58B down-folding steel stock. Wood is a fir plywood laminate.
- AKMAKMThe AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
- Type 68 - Korean modification to 3rd-pattern AKM, with no anti-bounce device. Folding-stock variant has perforations on stock struts.
- AK-74AK-74The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
Assault Rifle- Type 88 - Licensed copy
- Type 98 - Later version based on AK-74M, issued with a metal, not plastic magazine.
- Zastava M76 Sniper Rifle
- JeoGyeokBoChong - Licensed copy
- RPDRPDThe RPD is a 7.62mm light machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by Vasily Degtyaryov for the intermediate 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge. It was created as a replacement for the DP machine gun chambered for the 7.62x54mmR Mosin rifle round...
Light Machine Gun- Type 62 - Licensed copy
Missiles
- Hwasung-ChongStrela 2The 9K32 “Strela-2” is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared homing guidance...
- North Korean version of the Strela 2 MANPAD - Taepodong-1Taepodong-1Taepodong-1 is a two-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile developed in North Korea, and the weapon is currently in use there. The missile was derived originally from the Scud rocket, and can allegedly serve as both a nuclear delivery system and a space launch vehicle...
- two or three stage missile - Taepodong-2Taepodong-2The Taepodong-2 is a designation used to indicate a North Korean two or three-stage ballistic missile design that is the successor to the Taepodong-1.-Details:...
- two or three stage missile - Hwasong-5Hwasong-5The Hwasong-5 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile derived from the Soviet R-17 Elbrus missile. It is one of several missiles with the NATO reporting name Scud....
- tactical rockets - Hwasong-6Hwasong-6The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile. It is derived from the Hwasong-5, itself a derivative of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. It carries the NATO reporting name Scud....
- tactical rockets - Nodong-1Nodong-1The Rodong-1 is a single stage, mobile liquid propellant medium range ballistic missile developed by North Korea...
- single-engine Scud design
Main Battle Tanks
- Pokpung-ho MBT (indigenous design whose capabilities are said to be similar to the T-90T-90The T-90 is a Russian third-generation main battle tank that is a modernisation of the T-72 . It is currently the most modern tank in service with the Russian Ground Forces and Naval Infantry...
) - Ch'onma-hoCh'onma-hoThe Ch'ŏnma-ho or spelled as Chonma-ho , which means "Sky Horse" or Pegasus, is one of North Korea's secretive indigenous main battle tank designs. The tank is also known by the name of 천리마 전차 （千里馬 or the "Chollima Tank". The original Ch'ŏnma-ho is based on the Soviet T-62. There are at least five...
MBT (Improved version of Russian T-62T-62The T-62 is a Soviet main battle tank, a further development of the T-55. Its 115 mm gun was the first smoothbore tank gun in use.The T-62 was produced between 1961 and 1975. It became a standard tank in the Soviet arsenal, partly replacing the T-55, although that tank continued to be...
) - PT-85PT-85The PT-85 is a North Korean produced amphibious light tank, based on the lengthened VTT-323 APC chassis, and featuring a turret similar in appearance to PT-76 one with several modifications. The PT-85 is armed with the 85 mm main gun and an ATGM launcher capable of firing 9M14M Malyutka ATGM. It is...
Amphibious Battle Tank
Armored Personnel Carriers
- BA-64BA-64The BA-64 was a 4×4 light armoured car, employed by the Soviet Army from 1942 into the early 1960s for reconnaissance and liaison tasks.The BA-64B was nicknamed 'Bobik' by its crews. The total recorded number of BA-64s produced differs even in Russian sources...
APC - Sinhung VTT-323VTT-323The North Korean produced M1973 Sinhung VTT-323 is a licensed copy of the Chinese YW 531 Armored Personnel Carrier. The vehicle features a box-like welded steel hull, with a small turret positioned just to the rear of the hull centerline. The VTT-323 has five road wheels and a turret mounting...
APC - M1992 APCBRDM-2The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08...
(copy of the Soviet BRDM-2BRDM-2The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08...
) - Type 85 ATGM CarrierVTT-323The North Korean produced M1973 Sinhung VTT-323 is a licensed copy of the Chinese YW 531 Armored Personnel Carrier. The vehicle features a box-like welded steel hull, with a small turret positioned just to the rear of the hull centerline. The VTT-323 has five road wheels and a turret mounting...
modified VTT-323 anti-tank missile carrier
Self-Propelled Artillery
- KoksanKoksanThe M-1978 is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of North Korean design and manufacture. Very little information is available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean Government. What is known is that it is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of the open turret type...
series Self-Propelled Guns- M-1989KoksanThe M-1978 is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of North Korean design and manufacture. Very little information is available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean Government. What is known is that it is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of the open turret type...
170mm SPG - M-1978KoksanThe M-1978 is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of North Korean design and manufacture. Very little information is available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean Government. What is known is that it is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of the open turret type...
170mm SPG
- M-1989
- Juche-Po series Self Propelled Guns
- M-1992 130mm SPG
- M-1991 130mm SPG
- M-1991 122mm SPG
- M-1977 152mm SPG
- M-1974 152mm SPG
- M-1975130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)The 130 mm towed field gun M-46 M1954 is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It was first observed by the west in 1954...
130mm SPG - M-1985 122mm SPG
- M-1981 122mm SPG
- M-1977 122mm SPG
- M-1992 120mm SPG
Towed Artillery
- M-1985 152mm Towed Artillery
- M-1943 152mm Towed Artillery
- M-1938M1938 mortarThe Soviet M1938 120-millimeter mortar was the first modern 120 mm mortar developed by any country, entering production in 1939. The Red Army made significant use of its heavy caliber by treating it as an artillery piece in World War II. The Germans were impressed by the weapon and adopted it...
152mm Towed Artillery - M-1937 ML-20 152mm Towed Artillery
- M-46 130mm Towed Artillery
- D-74 122mm Towed Artillery
- D-30 122mm Towed Artillery
- A-19 122mm Towed Artillery
- M-30 122mm Towed Artillery
- M-1937 122mm Towed Artillery
- M-1931 122mm Towed Artillery
Multiple Rocket Launcher System Vehicles
- M-1991 240mm MLRS Vehicle
- M-1989 240mm MLRS Vehicle
- M-1985 240mm MLRS Vehicle
- M-1993 122mm MLRS Vehicle
- M-1992 122mm MLRS Vehicle
- M-1985 122mm MLRS Vehicle
- M-1977 122mm MLRS Vehicle
- BM-11 122mm MLRS Vehicle
- Type-63 107mm MLRS Vehicle