Western media reports that thousands of North Korean military soldiers have arrived in Russia, but Russian and North Korean officials have not commented on the matter. The West, on the other hand, has become increasingly interested in North Korea’s military capabilities.
According to Reuters, the Korean People’s Army (KPA), with an estimated 1.3 million personnel, is one of the world’s largest armies, second only to those of considerably larger countries such as China and the United States.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London, North Korea has around 600,000 reservists and 5.7 million Worker-Peasant Red Guard personnel, including many unarmed units.
The North Korean Air Force has approximately 110,000 troops, while the Navy has 60,000.
The IISS estimates that the Air Force possesses about 400 fighter aircraft, 80 light bombers, and over 200 transport aircraft, many of which date back to the Soviet era.
According to the South Korean Defense White Paper for 2022, KPA possesses around 6,900 tanks and armored vehicles among its armored and mechanized forces. The KPA Navy has about 470 surface ships, including missile ships, torpedo boats, light patrol boats, fire support vessels, and 70 submarines, including Soviet-designed and ultra-compact submarines.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides North Korea from South Korea, is home to the majority of its army.
The South Korean White Paper states the North Korean military employs 6,800 cyber warfare specialists.
According to the CIA, military spending accounted for approximately 20-30% of North Korea’s GDP between 2010 and 2020.
According to the New York Times, North Korean troops are among the world’s longest-serving and most experienced conscripts, serving for eight to ten years.
According to military analysts, North Korea enforces mandatory conscription beginning at the age of 18 with service lengths ranging from three to eight years depending on the type of military service, and enlists women. At least 200,000 people work in auxiliary units, such as construction and security, for the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee’s Engineering Bureau and the Ministry of Public Security.
The country’s military strategy focuses on aggressive defense. KPA deployments adhere to the principles of layered defense. Stationed near the DMZ, the first level prevents hostile forces from entering North Korea. The second level, positioned within a day’s march of the border and along the coast, is in charge of neutralizing any breaches. The third echelon’s major objective is to defend Pyongyang. The fourth echelon, located on the borders with China and Russia, functions as “training-reserve troops” during peacetime and “forces of last resort” if a conflict with South Korea occurs. North Korea’s limited size allows them to mobilize and redeploy forces as needed.
The KPA’s advantage stems from its difficult topography (mostly hilly areas, deep woods, risky mountain routes, and crossings), inadequate road infrastructure, seasonal severe weather, and a large number of densely populated cities. North Korean infantry are expected to prepare for resistance by using both natural and artificial fortifications, as well as underground communication networks. In some instances, tank groups may be used to cut off enemy units and supplies. It is practically impossible to conduct offensive operations against the KPA within North Korea, as a potential invader would have to navigate through pre-built chokepoints, thereby risking ambushes and traps and complicating navigation.
The KPA has the world’s largest artillery arsenal, with over 21,000 pieces of towed and self-propelled artillery ranging from 122 to 170 millimeters, various mortars, and numerous rocket launch systems, some with unique features.
Additionally, researchers are developing and implementing various operational tactical missile systems.
The massive North Korean artillery poses a considerable threat to the 23.5 million citizens of the Seoul metropolitan region, which has suburbs only 26 kilometers from the 38th parallel.
South Korea’s defensive systems, such as the American THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Air Defense) and the Korean KAMD (Korean Air and Missile Defense), are ineffective against artillery strikes. Only roughly 500 North Korean artillery systems have an effective combat range of more than 50 kilometers each. Recently, the KPA tested various long-range multiple rocket launch systems capable of striking targets up to 300 kilometers away, allowing them to fire from safe locations throughout the country.
For example, the KN-09 rocket launcher, with a 300 mm caliber and a 190 kg payload, can attack targets at 220 kilometers using inertial guidance and satellite navigation to improve accuracy.
In addition, there is the KN-25 “super-large caliber” 600 mm MRL. In August 2019, these rockets flew approximately 380 kilometers and reached an altitude of 97 kilometers.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un participated in tests of a new 600 mm caliber MRL in September 2024, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
“The rockets fired from the MRL accurately hit their target—an island in the East (Japanese) Sea,” reported KCNA.
The military-industrial complex created “the new 600 mm MRL combat vehicle with enhanced features” to “meet the army’s combat operating needs,” which include increased mobility and completely automated fire processes.
Thus, North Korea possesses a huge and relatively well-developed military capable of deterring and engaging potential rivals. North Korea is constantly taking steps to improve the KPA and reinforce its defenses. In recent years, the Korean Strategic Rocket Forces have developed the capability to hit targets beyond the Pacific region.