In this article I will analyze the Korean People’s Army which represents the military forces of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The Korean People’s Army is composed of 5 branches, Korean People’s Army Ground Force, Korean People’s Navy, Korean People’s Air force, strategic rocket force, and North Korean Special Operation Force. In this paper I will look at the big three: Korean People’s Army Ground Force, Korean People’s Navy, and Korean People’s Air force. I will talk about the force strength and some of the equipment that each brings to the fight.
Korean People’s Army Ground Force
The Korean People’s Army Ground Force makes up the largest part of the Korean People’s Army and is responsible for land operations. In the 2013 US Defense departments study of the Korean People’s Army they estimate the current strength at about 950,000 personal equipped with 4,200 tanks, 2,200 armored vehicles, 8,600 artillery guns, and over 4,800 multiple rocket launchers. Most of the force is comprised of light infantry soldiers. A large majority of the Army is strategically deployed to forward areas of operation, where their deep artillery poses an increased threat to the Republic of Korea.
Korean armor is out dated and based on 1960’s and 70’s technology. The main battle tank of the North Korean Army is T-55. The T-55 is equipped with a 120 mm or 125 mm guns, active protection systems, and fire control systems with range-finders or thermal sights.
Do to the out dated and aged equipment of the armor the North Korean Army is trying to supplement is force with a massive amount of artillery. North Korean most dangerous artillery systems are their long range systems. The long range systems are composed of 170mm self propelled howitzers and...
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...iles, torpedoes, guns, and radar or infrared homing seekers. Even with a limited range of about 50 nautical miles the small boats are capable of responding to combat ships in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s waters.
The Korean People’s Navy has a large inventory of well equipped submarine ranging from attack subs to midget type subs. Attack subs have improved sonar, and capable of carry 14 torpedoes or 28 mines. While the midget type subs are used for clandestine operation with the Special Operation forces.
Despite North Korea’s internal challenges the Korean People’s Army poses a serious risk to dispute the security of North Asia and United States interests in the region. With little or no warning, even with its aging equipment, it still retains the capability to inflict significant damage, especially in the region from the De-militarized Zone (DMZ) to Seoul
The Collins Class is a class of six Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The Collins Class Submarines are designed for long-range maritime patrol and response, maritime strike and support. The Defence Corporate Plan 1996-2000 states that introduction of the Collins Class Submarine into service is a key strategy in achieving Defence’s foremost objective of making the Australian Defence Force (ADF) capable of defeating any attack, which could credibly be mounted against Australia.
Throughout the years submarine technology has advanced throughout the years from the original military submarine the turtle to the German u boats during WWII modern nuclear power submarines that we have today. These developments have required a lot of technological improvements. To make the u boats work the Germans need better battery and electrical motor technologies and the nuclear submarine obviously needed nuclear technology. Submarines have always been an innovative way to win the navel war.
8 Galum, John, Joshua Shakon and Tan Mau Wu. “National Missile Defense – A CS91 Final Project.” < http://www.cs.swarthmore.edu/~eroberts/cs91/projects/national-missile-defense/index.html>
Comparison of the Practices and Strategies Utilized in the Korean and Vietnam Wars Two of the greatest battles which were fought by similar foes were those of the Korean and Vietnamese wars. Both conflicts involved a "communist" and "capitalist" participant(s) which had their own ideals and reasons for why to include themselves into such conflicts. There are also other similarities other than the opponents in these wars, such as the military tactics and strategies which were effectuated during this time. In both cases, the U.S. intervened forcefully introducing large masses of militia and using a considerable amount of armament, yet on the other hand, their enemies were supported by their allies throughout the duration of both conflicts and succeeded militarily against the democratic forces. To start off with, during the Korean War, North Korea invaded the southern sector of the country without any warning.
...t was not for these precursors then the continuation of unrestricted submarine warfare might still be a threat to the vessels that now transport hundreds of thousands of people all over the globe.
Amid the snow-covered hills in the tiny village of Chipyong-Ni, Korea, a battle ridden 23rd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division made a decisive stand from February 13-15, 1951 that would lead to the first operational win against a much stronger and larger force. In what some considered being the Gettysburg of the Korean War, the Battle of Chipyong-Ni was a bitterly contested engagement between the X Corp, 23rd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, under the command of COL. Paul Freeman the North Korean People’s Army and the Chinese Communist Forces’ (CCF). This analysis will demonstrate that COL Paul Freemans’ ability to properly use mission command ultimately led to the first operational defeat of the enemy since the Korean War had started.
"Smuggling of Arms to Korea." The Ministry of Justice of The Republic of Korea. http://www.moj.go.kr/HP/COM/bbs_03/ListShowData.do?strOrgGbnCd=104080&strFilePath=&strRtnURL=ENG_4010&strNbodCd=noti0098&strNbodCd=noti0098&strWrtNo=28&strAnsNo=A&strThisPage=1 (accessed April 9, 2014).
方玥雯[Fang Yue Wen] (2009). 北韓核武研發與東北亞安全：2002-2007. [The North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons and the Security in Northeast Asia: 2002-2007] in台灣[Taiwan]: 國立政治大學[National Cheungchi University] Retrieved 18 July, 2013 from http://nccuir.lib.nccu.edu.tw/handle/140.119/37029
... examined the importance of the nuclear weapons military revolution and its lasting impacts on modern day society. Evidence presented supports why this military revolution had the most impact of all on warfare and was carefully illustrated through the immergence of new threats, the shift from total war and high intensity conflict to low intensity conflict and finally, the critical role that technology and innovation has played since the advent of nuclear weapons. This is important in today’s operational and strategic environment due to the fact that American military and political leadership will continue to have taken in account the use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield. As globalization continues to set the conditions for nuclear weapons proliferation worldwide, the restraints and operational risks will dramatically increase and affect all strategic planning.
Hackmann, Willem Dirk. “SONAR.” Encyclopedia of World War II. Vol. 2. New York: Facts on File, 2007. Modern World History Online. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. .
Since the end of the Korean War, the United States has enacted policies to isolate and undermine the Kim Dynasty in North Korea. A key development took place in the past several decades where North Korea broke away from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to develop their own nuclear weapons and while lacking launch capabilities, they have been successful in their development. During this process, the United States took active policies to deter the North Koreans in pursuit of their goals. It is easy to assume that the United States took this stance in order to maintain a military edge in the region. But under closer examination, this neo-realist perspective does not explain why the United States pursued this policy.
Created during the Cold War, the People’s Army had abandoned their traditions to follow those of the Soviets (Tertitskiy, par. 5). After turning 17, all North Koreans who pass a health check join the military. Usually, unless an enlistee gives the military mobilization department a bribe, he or she does not have the option of where to serve (par. 16). North Korean soldiers are forced to serve a decade, so working in a desired department would be greatly appreciated (par. 10). The ten years of service can be very grueling to a soldier. Soldiers are regularly frustrated because they are often used for building city projects—not fighting for their country (par. 24). Since soldiers are not allowed to see their families for the entire decade of service-even for funerals- and junior soldiers cannot have relationships, many soldiers can vent their frustrations only through their actions (par. 23). There have been many cases of soldiers attacking officers, as well as stealing from civilians (par. 21-22). Hostile enlistees create an especially hostile area for women. A female soldier can be threatened to have sex with their commander (par. 21). Not doing so would result in not being allowed to join the party, negating her many years of training (par. 21). Mandatory military service has failed in North Korea. Although soldiers are
The US military can be successful in future wars if it focuses on, trains to, and adapts its force structure to prepare for full spectrum operations. The most likely challenges to US national security interests include international terrorist organizations, transnational criminal organizations, insurgent rebellions and small wars. The most dangerous challenges to US national security interests come from major conventional threats like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China. To overcome these most likely and most dangerous challenges, the US needs to focus its strategic guidance on full spectrum operations, increase training in conventional operations while maintaining current training in irregular operations, and improve the force structure with irregular operation enablers while maintaining its conventional power capabilities.
Since its origin in 1948, North Korea has been isolated and heavily armed, with hostile relations with South Korea and Western countries. It has developed a capability to produce short- and medium-range missiles, chemical weapons, and possibly biological and nuclear weapons. In December 2002, Pyongyang lifted the freeze on its plutonium-based nuclear weapons program and expelled IAEA inspectors who had been monitoring the freeze under the Agreed Framework of October 1994. As the Bush administration was arguing its case at the United Nations for disarming Iraq, the world has been hit with alarming news of a more menacing threat: North Korea has an advanced nuclear weapons program that, U.S. officials believe, has already produced one or two nuclear bombs. As the most recent standoff with North Korea over nuclear missile-testing approaches the decompression point, the United States needs to own up to a central truth: The region of Northeast Asia will never be fully secure until the communist dictatorship of North Korea passes from the scene. After threatening to test a new, long-range missile, Pyongyang says it is willing to negotiate with "the hostile nations" opposing it. But whether the North will actually forgo its test launch is anyone's guess. North Korea first became embroiled with nuclear politics during the Korean War. Although nuclear weapons were never used in Korea, American political leaders and military commanders threatened to use nuclear weapons to end the Korean War on terms favorable to the United States. In 1958, the United States deployed nuclear weapons to South Korea for the first time, and the weapons remained there until President George Bush ordered their withdrawal in 1991. North Korean government stateme...
Kim, Yongho and Yi, Yurim “Security Dilemmas and Signaling during the North Korean Nuclear Standoff”, Asian Perspective, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2005, pp. 73-97