Modern North Korean

North Korean People’s Army 1960 to 1997

As the last Stalinist state, North Korea has lost its sponsors, and may well have little functioning equipment left. Well into the 1980’s their commandos raided into the South, trying to destabilize the regime there.

North Korean Corps Tank Regiment Headquarters 1960 to 1990 (Commands 3 Tank Battalions, 1 Motor Rifle Battalion)

HQ 1 T55 or T62 or Type 59, 2 Truck,

Recce Company 2 PT76 or Type 63

1 BTR152 or BTR50 or BMP1, 3 Rifle

Anti Aircraft Company 2 ZSU-57

Engineer Company 2 BTR 50, Engr, 1 Engr 1 MTU20

Note T55/Type 59 can be used without restriction

T62 from 1970

BTR152 from 1965

BTR50/60 from 1975

BMP were issued from 1981

ZSU23 from 1985.

Many Chinese APC types are available from 1990.

North Korean Infantry Regiment Headquarters 1960 to 1997 (commands 3 Battalions)

HQ 1 HQ

Anti Aircraft Company 2 ZPU4, 2 Truck

Engineer Company 3 Truck, 3 Engr

Mortar Battery 2 Truck, 2 120M

Anti Tank Battery 2 Trucks, 2 76AT

MRL Battery 2 Jeep, 1 HQ, 2 107Rct, 2 Trucks

Note The BM21 can be replaced by earlier types prior to 1975. This unit does not normally have any tanks attached, but may have 1 battalion.

North Korean Tank Battalion 1960 to 1997

HQ 1 HQ

3 Tank Companies each 3 T55 or T62 or Type 59

1 Infantry Company 3 BTR50 or BMP1, 3 Rifle

Note For dates see the regiment. Some T34’s remained in service, so could be substituted for the types given above.

North Korean Infantry Battalion 1960 to 1997

HQ 1 HQ (May be on foot)

3 Infantry Companies each 3 APC, 3 Rifle (May be on foot) 1 Sagger (From 1970, Mech only)

Machinegun Company 2 Truck, 2 MG (May be on foot)

Anti-Tank Company 2 Jeep, 2 107 or 82RR (107mm in Mech)

Mortar Battery 3 Truck, 3 82M

Note This gives Mechanized, Assault, Infantry and Light Battalions. Mechanized units use tracked APCs; the types are shown under Headquarters. BMP-1 Companies are possible with BTR-50 for Headquarters, and Mortars, Delete the Anti-tank Company in BMP units. Motorized units use wheeled APCs. Infantry use Trucks or are on foot. Assault and Light Battalions are intended to be tank riders, delete the Anti-tank Platoon, and neither have any support companies. Assault Companies may be transported in Mi-8. Any type may add 1 SA7 to Headquarters from 1975. The machinegun company is not part of the mechanized battalion’s order of battle.

North Korean Infantry Divisional Anti-Tank or Close Support Battalion 1960 to 1997

HQ 1 HQ

3 Batteries each 2 Trucks, 2 57ATG or 76ATG or 2 SU76 or SU100

Or

2 Jeep, 1 HQ, 1 Type 83 or JSU152

Note Infantry Divisions have 1 Self-Propelled and 1 Towed Anti-tank Battalion. The Artillery batteries form part of the Combined Arms Brigade. The Type 83 is a Self-Propelled 152mm Howitzer; it could be the same as the 2S3. It is intended to fire over open sights as an assault gun.

North Korean Mechanized Corps Anti Tank Battalion 1990 to 1997

2 Companies each 1 BRDM/AT, 2 Gaz/82RR

North Korean Engineer Battalion 1960 to 1997

HQ 1 HQ

1 Engr Company 3 Engr, 3 APC, 1 IMR

1 Assault Engr Company 1 BRDM1 or 2, 2 GSP, 2 PT54, 2 Truck with 10 Rafts

1 Bridging Company 1 Truck with 5 Rafts, 1 Engr, 1 BTR152, 4 PMP

1 Construction Company

4 Dump Truck, 2 Bulldozer

North Korean Divisional Anti Aircraft Battalion 1960 to 1997

1 SAM Anti Aircraft Battery 4 SA7, 4 Gaz

1 MG Anti Aircraft Battery 4 14.5AA, 4 Truck

1 Light Anti Aircraft Battery 4 37AA, 4 Truck

1 Medium Anti Aircraft Battery 4 57AA, 4 Truck

North Korean Brigade Anti Aircraft Battalion 1960 to 1997

1 SAM Anti Aircraft Battery 4 SA7, 4 Gaz

1 Light Anti Aircraft Battery 4 37AA, 4 Truck

North Korean Artillery Battalion 1960 to 1997

3 Batteries Towed – 2 Trucks, 122H or 152H

Or

Self-Propelled – 2 SO122 or 2 SO152 or 2 BM-21

North Korean Brigade Reconnaissance Company 1960 to 1997

1 Platoon 2 Scout, 2 M/C

2 Platoons each

1 Light Tanks (M1985, Type 63 or PT76)

North Korean Infantry Reconnaissance Company 1960 to 1997

3 Platoons each 2 Scout

Large Units:

Infantry Division – 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment (3 122mm Towed Battalions, 1 Towed 152mm Battalion, 1 Towed MRL Battalion), 1 Mortar Regiment (120mm – 3 Towed Battalions), 1 Tank Battalion, 1 Light Infantry Battalion, 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Infantry Reconnaissance Company

Infantry Brigade – 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Mortar Regiment (120mm – 3 Towed Battalions), 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion

Tank Brigade – 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1 Light Tank Battalion, 2 Artillery Battalions (Self Propelled 152mm and 122mm), 4 Tank Battalions, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Anti Aircraft Battalion

Mechanized Brigade – 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 4 Motorized Infantry Battalions, 2 Artillery Battalions (Self Propelled 152mm and 122mm), 1 Tank Battalion, 1 Light Tank Company, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Anti Aircraft Battalion, 1 MRL Battery, 1 Mortar Battalion

Motorized Brigade – 3 Motorized Infantry Battalions, 2 Artillery Battalions (Self Propelled 152mm and 122mm), 3 Tank Battalions, 1 Light Tank Company, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Anti Aircraft Battalion, 1 MRL Battery, 1 Towed Mortar Battalion (120mm), 1 Anti Tank Battalion

Mechanized Corps – 5 Mechanized Brigades, 1 Light Infantry Brigade, 1 Reconnaissance Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade (152mm Self Propelled), 1 Antiaircraft Regiment (57mm S60 – 3 Battalions), 1 MRL Brigade (BM21 – 3 Battalions), 1 Corps Engineer Regiment, (3 Battalions), 1 Anti Tank Regiment (3 Battalions), 1 Cavalry Regiment

Tank Corps – 5 Tank Brigades, 1 Engineer Bridging Battalion

Infantry Corps – 5 Infantry Divisions, 1 Tank Brigade, 1 Reconnaissance Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade (130 or 152mm – 4 Battalions), 1 Antiaircraft Regiment (57mm S60 – 3 Battalions), 1 MRL Brigade (BM21 – 3 Battalions), 1 Engineer Regiment, (3 Battalions)