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

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

Personal Equipment +NameCountry of originImageNoteHead Gear & Combat HelmetSSh-40Still in use.PASGT-styleStandard issue combat helmet.FAST-style helmetIssued by special force members.UshankaStandard issue head gear for cold weather.Field cap, BeretStandard issue head gear for non-cold weather.Peaked capBattle Dress Uniform (Camouflage)Army Officer UniformLarge amount. Still in use.Woodland Standard issued BDU, similar to the former camouflage uniforms of the ROK Army.Granite B-styleUnlicense copy. Some unit in KPA are issued, include the Special Force. Seen in 2022.MulticamVarious. Seen in 2020.EMR camouflageSeen in used by KPA troops on Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

Small arms Name Country of origin Image Note Semi-automatic pistols Type 64 Unlicensed copy of the FN Browning M1900. Can be fitted with a suppressor. Issued to high-ranking officers and spies. Makarov PM Type 70 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 Unlicensed copy of the CZ 75 pistol. Replaced the Type 68 as the standard-issue pistol. CZ 82 Issued to spies with suppressors attached. FN Baby Browning Issued to spies with suppressors attached. Inglis Hi-Power Canadian-made copies issued to spies and special forces commandos. Sub-machine guns PPS-43 Both Soviet PPS submachine guns and Chinese Type 54s. vz.61 Used by spies.Type 98 submachine gun Resembles the PP-19-01 Vityaz and PP-19 Bizon but with an optical sight and a flash suppressor. Used by special forces. Sterling Shotguns KS-23 Vepr-12Seen in use with North Korean troops in the Kursk region.Carbine Type 88 assault rifle 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 KPAAK-105North 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. Assault rifles Type 56 Chinese copy of the AK-47. Type 68 North Korean copy of the AKM. Type 88 Unlicensed copy of the AK-74. It can use a 100 or 150-round helical magazine besides conventional 30-round box magazines. AK-12 Seen in use with North Korean troops in the Kursk region.Type 88 Bullpup 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 a vertical handgrip. Issued to special force members Unnamed OICW-type weapon type 88-3 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 Limited use, issued to special force members. K2 Limited use, unlicensed locally made copies, issued to special force members at least since 1990s. M16A1 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 Jeogyeok-Bochong Type 78 Unlicensed version of the PSL rifle, some sources say it's a Zastava M76 copy, chambered in 7.62x54mmR. Dragunov SVD Machine guns RPD Produced locally as the Type 62. Type 64 North Korean copy of the RPK machine gun, produced under license. RPK-74 Type 73 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 Indigenous electric-powered Gatling-type gun, chambered to fire 7.62×54mmR. Type 82 North Korean copy of the PKM machine gun. Replaced the Type 73 as the KPA standard general-purpose machine gun. Heavy Weapons DShKM Standard issue. The Chinese Type 54 machine gun is also used by the KPA. NSV KPV Chinese copies are also used by the KPA. Grenade launchers GP-25 Underbarrel grenade launcher. Can be mounted on all Kalashnikov-type rifles. AGS-17 Flamethrowers ROKS-3 Non-lethal ZM-87 Reported to have been used to illuminate two US Army Apache helicopters in 2003.

Reserve small arms

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 Main battle tank 1,000−1,600 Type 59 175 T-62 800 Chonma-ho 1,000−1,400 Locally produced T-62. Pokpung-ho 100−250 Based on the T-62, it incorporates technologies from the T-72 or T-90 tank. Songun-915 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 At least 10 PT-76 Amphibious light tank 560+ M1985 Similar to the PT-76, but uses the VTT-323 chassis. Armoured fighting vehicles BTR-80A Infantry fighting vehicle 32 BTR-50 Armoured personnel carrier Unknown Type 63 500 VTT-323 Unknown Based on the Type 63/YW531. BTR-40 Unknown BTR-60 1,200 500 BTR-60PA and 700 BTR-60PB in 2011. BTR-152 Unknown M1992/1 Unknown Based on the BRDM-2. M2010 At least 10 6×6 and 8×8 versions based on the BTR-60 and BTR-80. Unknown 8×8 APC Unknown A 122 mm mobile gun system. Bulsae-4 M-2018 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 Sungri 58 4×4 truck x Locally produced copy of the GAZ-51. Isuzu 6×6 truck Ural-375D Locally produced copies. ZIL-130 4×4 truck ZIL-131 6×6 truck Sinotruk HOWO 6×6 truck Civilian trucks converted for military use. Taebaeksan 96 Medium truck Less than 50 North Korean copy of the KAMAZ-58111, built in cooperation with KAMAZ. ZIL-135 Transporter erector launcher FROG-7 launcher. MAZ-543 Imported from Russia. WS51200 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 TypePhoto 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 or with rocket-assisted projectiles. M-1981 122 mm SPG Maximum range . M-1985 122 mm SPG A-19 mounted on a modified ATS-59 chassis. Maximum range . M-1991 Maximum range . M-1975 Maximum range . M-1981 M-1991 Maximum range . M-1974 152 mm SP howitzer Maximum range . M-1977 D-1 mounted on a Type 63 chassis. Maximum range . 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 . Range of 40 kilometers. Striking range at over 60 kilometers as stated by North Korea.https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-05-08/national/northKorea/North-Korea-to-deploy-new-gunhowitzer-system-within-firing-range-of-Seoul/2587458 On June 25, extended-range artillery shells were fired during testing with range of 65 kilometers.https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260626001700315?section=nk/nk M-1978 Koksan 170 mm SPG Juche-po Towed guns D-30 122 mm howitzer D-74 122 mm field gun A-19 M-46 130 mm field gun M-1937 152 mm gun-howitzer M-1938 152 mm howitzer M-1943 Multiple rocket launchers Type 75https://militarnyi.com/en/articles/dprk-rocket-artillery-as-a-prospect-for-russia/ 107 mm towed multiple rocket launcher Locally produced Type 63 under license. Over 5,000 built for domestic and export markets. VTT-323 107 mm 107 mm SP multiple rocket launcher Type 75 mounted on a Type 63 APC or VTT-323 chassis.https://militarnyi.com/en/articles/dprk-rocket-artillery-as-a-prospect-for-russia/ 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 North Korean copy of the BM-21 Grad. M-1985 40-tube locally produced copy of the BM-21, mounted on an Isuzu 6×6 chassis. M-1992 M-1993 VTT-323 122 mm BMD-20 200 mm SP multiple rocket launcher BM-24 240 mm SP multiple rocket launcher M-1985 12-tube launcher mounted on an Isuzu 6×6 chassis. M-1989 M-1991 Can fire unguided and guided rockets.North Korea Unveils Powerful New 240 mm MLRS Capable of Firing Guided Missiles. Army Recognition. 11 May 2024. HIMARS-stylehttps://militarnyi.com/en/news/north-korea-develops-its-own-himars-style-rocket-system/ Multiple calibers, 122mm, 240mm and Hwasong-11D Maximum range of 240mm rocket stated at 90 kilometers.https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260626001700315?section=nk/nk 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 60mm mortar of type (A)https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russian-military-starts-arming-with-60mm-mortars-from-north-korea/ 60 mm mortar 82-BM-37 82 mm 120-PM-43 120 mm mortar 140mm mortar of 1982 modelhttps://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/turns_out_north_korea_does_have_a_140mm_mortar_and_its_based_on_chinese_w76-14778.html 140 mm mortarDerived from Chinese Type-76/W76 140mm mortarhttps://militarnyi.com/en/news/north-korea-supplies-russia-with-140mm-mortars/ M1943 160 mm mortar Tactical ballistic missiles 2K6 Luna Short-range ballistic missile24 FROG-3 and FROG-5 in service. 9K52 Luna-M Hwasong-11D 250 Undergoing trials. Hwasong-11 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.

NameQuantityNote 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 M-1992 23 mm Twin 23 mm guns mounted on a modified ATS-59 chassis. Effective range 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

References

Bibliography