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List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Force

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This is a list of equipment used by the Korean People's Army Ground Force.

Small arms

Name Country of origin Image Note
Semi-automatic pistols
Type 64  Belgium
 North Korea
Unlicensed copy of the FN Browning M1900. Can be fitted with a suppressor. Issued to high-ranking officers and spies.
Makarov PM  Soviet Union
Type 68  North Korea Indigenous copy based on Tokarev TT-33 with elements of the Browning Hi-Power. Former standard-issue pistol.
Type 70  North Korea Self-designed and produced; Modeled after the FN M1910, Makarov PM, and the Walther PPK; chambered in .32 ACP. Issued to high-ranking officers.
Baek-Du San  Czechoslovakia
 North Korea
Unlicensed copy of the CZ 75 pistol. Replaced the Type 68 as the standard-issue pistol.
CZ 82  Czechoslovakia Issued to spies with suppressors attached.
FN Baby Browning  Belgium Issued to spies with suppressors attached.
Inglis Hi-Power  Belgium
 Canada
Canadian-made copies issued to spies and special forces commandos.
Sub-machine guns
PPSh-41  Soviet Union
 China
 North Korea
Made licensed copies under the designation "Type 49" from 1949 until 1955. Soviet and Chinese "Type 50" models also in use.
PPS-43  Soviet Union
 China
Both Soviet PPS submachine guns and Chinese Type 54s.
vz.61  Czechoslovakia Used by spies.
Type 98 submachine gun  Soviet Union
 North Korea
Resembles the PP-19-01 Vityaz and PP-19 Bizon but with an optical sight and a flash suppressor. Used by special forces.
Sterling submachine gun  United Kingdom
Shotguns
KS-23  Soviet Union
Carbine
Type 98  North Korea Resembles an AKS-74 but with a top-folding stock and has typically a helical magazine attached or in some cases a 30-round magazine. Preferred by mainly Special Operations Forces within the KPA
AK-105  Russia
 North Korea
North Korean copy of the Russian AK-105 with a shortened 20-round magazine carrying 5.45×39mm ammunition. The furniture such as the pistol grip and the lightweight stock are made of plastic. Issued to armored crews.
SKS  Soviet Union
 China
 North Korea
Locally manufactured as the Type 63. Chinese Type 56 rifles also used.
Assault rifles
Type 56  China Chinese copy of the AK-47.
Type 58  Soviet Union
 North Korea
North Korean copy of the AK-47 produced under licence. Standard issue of militia and KPA secondary troops.
Type 68  Soviet Union
 North Korea
North Korean copy of the AKM. Standard issue among North Korean infantry and being slowly supplanted by the Type 88 or 98.
Type 88  North Korea

North Korean copy of the AK-74. Slowly supplanting the Type 68 as the future standard-issue rifle of the KPA. It is designed to use a new NK-designed helical magazine that can hold between 100 and 150 5.45 x 39 mm cartridges besides the standard 30 round magazine.
AK-12  Russia A North Korean copy of the AK-12 is shown holding by Kim Jong-un during his inspects trip at a special operations forces unit on 11 September 2024.
Type 88 Bullpup  North Korea Bullpup Type weapon based on the Type 88-2 and ADS, Russian bullpup rifle chambered to fire the 5.45 mm round, fitted with a scope and an vertical handgrip. Issued to special force members
Unnamed OICW-type weapon  North Korea OICW-Type weapon based on the Type 88-2 chambered to fire the 5.45 mm round, as well as a 20 mm bullpup bolt-action over-barrel launcher with magazine containing around 5 rounds of programmable airburst grenades.
Norinco CQ  China Limited use, issued to special force members.
K2  South Korea Limited use, unlicensed locally made copies, issued to special force members at least since 1990s.
M16A1  United States Limited use, unlicensed locally made copies, issued to special force members. Seen in use by North Korean Commandos in the Gangneung incident in 1996.
Sniper rifles
Mosin-Nagant  Soviet Union Fitted with a telescopic sight.
Jeogyeok-Bochong Type 76  North Korea Unlicensed version of the Zastava M76 rifle. Issued to ghillie squad from KPA Special forces.
Dragunov SVD  Soviet Union
Machine guns
DP-28  Soviet Union
 China
DPM, Chinese Type 53, and RP-46 variants used by the KPA.
RPD  Soviet Union
 North Korea
Produced locally as the Type 62.
Type 64  Soviet Union
 North Korea
North Korean copy of the RPK machine gun, produced under license.
RPK-74  Soviet Union
Type 73  North Korea Indigenous design based on the ZB vz. 26 and the Kalashnikov PK machine gun design. Replaced by the Type 82 in service.
Gun-2 Minigun  North Korea Indigenous electric-powered Gatling-type gun, chambered to fire 7.62×54mmR.
Type 82  Soviet Union
 North Korea
North Korean copy of the PKM machine gun. Replaced the Type 73 as the KPA standard general-purpose machine gun.
Heavy Weapons
DShKM  Soviet Union
 China
Standard issue. The Chinese Type 54 machine gun is also used by the KPA.
NSV  Soviet Union
KPV  Soviet Union
 China
Chinese copies are also used by the KPA.
Grenade launchers
GP-25  Soviet Union Underbarrel grenade launcher. Can be mounted on all Kalashnikov-type rifles.
AGS-17  Soviet Union
Flamethrowers
ROKS-3  Soviet Union
Non-lethal
ZM-87  China Reported to have been used to illuminate two US Army Apache helicopters in 2003.

Reserve small arms

(Used by Worker-Peasant Red Guards).

  • TT-33 – Soviet supplied pistols and Type 68 copies replaced in frontline service by the Baek-Du San pistol.
  • PPSh-41 – Used by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards.
  • Mosin-Nagant – Used by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards.
  • Type 63 – North Korean copy of the SKS, used by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards.
  • Type 58 – North Korean copy of the AK-47, used by second-line troops and militia.
  • DP-28 – Soviet supplied machine guns and Chinese Type 53 copies replaced in frontline service by the Type 62.
  • Type 73 – Replaced in frontline service by the Type 82.
  • RPG-2 – Replaced in frontline service by the RPG-7.

Besides small arms, the Worker-Peasant Red Guards also maintains heavier weapons such as mortars, anti-aircraft guns, and some obsolete vehicles such as T-34 tanks and SU-100 tank destroyers.

Armour

In 2024, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that North Korea had more than 3,500 main battle tanks, 560 light tanks, and 2,500 armoured personnel carriers (both tracked and wheeled) in service.

Name Photo Origin Type Quantity Notes
Tanks
T-54/55  Soviet Union Main battle tank 1,000−1,600
Type 59  China Main battle tank 175
T-62  Soviet Union Main battle tank 800
Chonma-ho  North Korea Main battle tank 1,000−1,400 Locally produced T-62.
Pokpung-ho  North Korea Main battle tank 100−250 Based on the T-62, it incorporates technologies from the T-72 or T-90 tank.
Songun-915  North Korea Main battle tank Unknown Based on the T-62 and T-72, upgraded with a 125 mm main gun, improved fire control systems, infrared sensors, and laser rangefinders.
Cheonma-2  North Korea Main battle tank At least 9

PT-76  Soviet Union Amphibious light tank 560+
M1985  North Korea Amphibious light tank Similar to the PT-76, but uses the VTT-323 chassis.
Armoured fighting vehicles
BTR-80A  Russia Infantry fighting vehicle 32
BTR-50  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier Unknown
Type 63  China Armoured personnel carrier 500
VTT-323  North Korea Armoured personnel carrier Unknown Based on the Type 63/YW531.
BTR-40  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier Unknown
BTR-60  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 1,200 500 BTR-60PA and 700 BTR-60PB in 2011.
BTR-152  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier Unknown
M1992/1  North Korea Armoured personnel carrier Unknown Based on the BRDM-2.
M2010  North Korea Armoured personnel carrier At least 10 6×6 and 8×8 versions based on the BTR-60 and BTR-80.
Unknown 8×8 APC  North Korea Armoured personnel carrier Unknown A 122 mm mobile gun system.
Bulsae-4 M-2018  North Korea Non line of sight anti-tank guided missile carrier Unknown 6x6 vehicle equipped with non-ballistic missile system for armored targets and helicopters at long range (15-25 km) connected by trailing fiber-optic transmitting video back to vehicle.

Vehicles

Name Type Origin Photo In service Notes
Transportation and logistics
UAZ-469 Utility vehicle  Soviet Union
Sungri 58 4×4 truck  North Korea Locally produced copy of the GAZ-51.
Isuzu 6×6 truck  Japan
Ural-375D 6×6 truck  Soviet Union
 North Korea
Locally produced copies.
ZIL-130 4×4 truck  Soviet Union
ZIL-131 6×6 truck  Soviet Union
Sinotruk HOWO 6×6 truck  China Civilian trucks converted for military use.
Taebaeksan 96 Medium truck  North Korea Less than 50 North Korean copy of the KAMAZ-58111, built in cooperation with KAMAZ.
ZIL-135 Transporter erector launcher  Soviet Union FROG-7 launcher.
MAZ-543 Transporter erector launcher  Soviet Union
 Russia
Imported from Russia.
WS51200 Transporter erector launcher  China
 North Korea
6 Heavy civilian truck converted into a TEL.

Artillery

In 2024, the IISS estimated that North Korea had more than 8,600 towed and self-propelled artillery pieces, 5,500 multiple rocket launcher systems, and 7,500 mortars in service.

Name Type In service Notes
Self-propelled guns
M-1992 120 mm SP gun-mortar Turret mounted mortar on a VTT-323 chassis.
M-1977 122 mm SP howitzer D-30 mounted on a tracked chassis. Maximum range 15.3 kilometres (9.5 mi) or 21.9 kilometres (13.6 mi) with rocket-assisted projectiles.
M-1981 122 mm SPG Maximum range 24 kilometres (15 mi).
M-1985 122 mm SPG A-19 mounted on a modified ATS-59 chassis. Maximum range 20.8 kilometres (12.9 mi).
M-1991 122 mm SPG Maximum range 24 kilometres (15 mi).
M-1975 130 mm SPG Maximum range 27.15 kilometres (16.87 mi).
M-1981 130 mm SPG
M-1991 130 mm SPG Maximum range 27.15 kilometres (16.87 mi).
M-1974 152 mm SP howitzer Maximum range 17.4 kilometres (10.8 mi).
M-1977 152 mm SP howitzer D-1 mounted on a Type 63 chassis. Maximum range 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi).
Juche 107th Year Type 155 mm Self-propelled Howitzer SP howitzer 155 mm SPH, first publicly displayed in a 2018 military parade. Range estimated to be over 30 kilometres (19 mi). Range of 40 kilometers.
M-1978 Koksan 170 mm SPG
Juche-po 170 mm SPG
Towed guns
D-30 122 mm howitzer
D-74 122 mm field gun
A-19 122 mm field gun
M-46 130 mm field gun
M-1937 152 mm gun-howitzer
M-1938 152 mm howitzer
M-1943 152 mm howitzer
Multiple rocket launchers
Type 63 107 mm towed multiple rocket launcher Locally produced under license. Over 5,000 built for domestic and export markets.
VTT-323 107 mm 107 mm SP multiple rocket launcher Type 63 mounted on a Type 63 APC or VTT-323 chassis.
BM-11 122 mm SP multiple rocket launcher 30-tube locally produced copy of the BM-21, mounted on a Ural-375D chassis.
M-1977 122 mm SP multiple rocket launcher North Korean copy of the BM-21 Grad.
M-1985 122 mm SP multiple rocket launcher 40-tube locally produced copy of the BM-21, mounted on a Isuzu 6×6 chassis.
M-1992 122 mm SP multiple rocket launcher
M-1993 122 mm SP multiple rocket launcher
VTT-323 122 mm 122 mm SP multiple rocket launcher
BMD-20 200 mm SP multiple rocket launcher
BM-24 240 mm SP multiple rocket launcher
M-1985 240 mm SP multiple rocket launcher 12-tube launcher mounted on a Isuzu 6×6 chassis.
M-1989 240 mm SP multiple rocket launcher
M-1991 240 mm SP multiple rocket launcher Can fire unguided and guided rockets.
M-2015 (KN-09) 300 mm SP multiple rocket launcher Undergoing trials.
M-2019 (KN-25) 600 mm SP multiple rocket launcher Undergoing trials.
Mortars
82-BM-37 82 mm mortar
120-PM-43 120 mm mortar
M1943 160 mm mortar
Tactical ballistic missiles
2K6 Luna Short-range ballistic missile 24 FROG-3 and FROG-5 in service.
9K52 Luna-M Short-range ballistic missile
Hwasong-11D Short-range ballistic missile Undergoing trials.
KN-02 Toksa Short-range ballistic missile North Korean copy of the OTR-21 Tochka.

Anti-tank weapons

Name Quantity Notes
Man-portable anti-tank
RPG-7 Locally produced as the Type 68.
RPG-29
Anti-tank guided missiles
3M6 Shmel
9K111 Fagot
9M113 Konkurs
Bulsae-2 North Korean copy of the 9K111 Fagot, it uses a laser guidance system.
9M133 Kornet Produced locally as the Bulsae.
Recoilless rifles
B-10 recoilless rifle 1,700
Self-propelled anti-tank guided missiles
9P122 Armed with 9M14 Malyutka missiles.
M-2010 ATGM 8-tube launcher mounted on a M-2010 6×6 APC chassis.

Anti-aircraft weapons

In 2024, the IISS estimated that North Korea possessed more than 11,000 anti-aircraft guns in service.

Name Quantity Note
Man-portable air-defense systems
9K32 Strela-2
9K310 Igla-1
HT-16 Indigenous design, it resembles the Igla-1 with elements from the 9K38 Igla and 9K338 Igla-S.
SA-18S Indigenous copy of the Igla-1, or the 9K38 Igla.
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
9K35 Strela-10
M-1984 ZPU-4 gun mounted on a Chonma-ho chassis. Effective range 1.4 km (0.87 mi)
M-1992 23 mm Twin 23 mm guns mounted on a modified ATS-59 chassis. Effective range 2.5 km (1.6 mi)
M-1992 37 mm Twin 37 mm guns mounted guns possibly based on the M1939 mounted on a modified ATS-59 chassis.
M-1985 Twin 57 mm guns mounted on a modified Type 63/YW531 chassis.
Towed anti-aircraft artillery
ZPU ZPU-1, ZPU-2, and ZPU-4 variants used. Produced locally.
ZU-23-2 1,500
M1939 1,000
AZP S-60 600
KS-12 400 Used with the 'Fire Can' radar.
KS-19 500

Bibliography

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