Nation

North Korea

Defence ministry: Ministry of National Defence (on government.ginc.org). Services: Worker-Peasant Red Guards, General Political Bureau, General Staff Department, KPA Ground Force, KPA Special Operation Forces, Korean People's Navy, KPA Air Force, KPA Strategic Force.

North Korea on government.ginc.org · companies.ginc.org (when it opens)

Active personnel, published
1,370,000
World Bank armed forces total: 1,469,000 (2020)
Reserves, published
420,000
Whole security apparatus, published
1,370,000
Headcount published for 50 per cent of services, agencies and formations
Active platforms
10,139
Land 8,374 · Air 1,205 · Sea 560
Median year in service
1959
Interquartile 1950–1961, weighted by count
Domestic share
17 per cent
Of active platforms with a known origin
Supplier concentration
0.53
Herfindahl index of origin across 6 supplier nations
Nuclear warheads
50
SIPRI Yearbook 2025 estimate

Counts for this nation carry low confidence by default: the site shows a range, not a point, unless an official or SIPRI figure exists.

Force fingerprint

The national security structure sized by active headcount, always from the head of state: row 1 the head of state and government, row 2 the governing bodies (grey, each as wide as the forces beneath it), row 3 the services and agencies coloured by security domain, row 4 the major commands, row 5 the major formations. A hatched segment is a body whose headcount is not published.

  • Land
  • Sea
  • Air
  • Space
  • Cyber
  • Strategic
  • Intelligence
  • Internal security
  • Joint
  • Headcount not published

SVG · PNG

Order of battle

The whole national security structure from the head of state down to major formations. Bars are as wide as their headcount; the state and government bodies are drawn grey, as the government directory has them. Click a bar to zoom into it.

Known unknowns

  • North Korea acknowledges almost none of its security apparatus in any accessible official source; structure here relies on US Treasury designations, the UN 1718 Committee list and Wikipedia.
  • The Reconnaissance General Bureau is not acknowledged by North Korea; its existence is recorded from US Treasury and UN Security Council designations, and its internal bureaux are not modelled.
  • The Ministry of State Security was reportedly renamed in 2026; the official English rendering and any change in reporting line are not confirmed.
  • All personnel figures are South Korean or IISS estimates via Wikipedia, confidence low; North Korea publishes none.
  • The KPA's corps (forward and rear), fleets and air divisions are not officially enumerated and are not modelled.
  • The Supreme Guard Command and the Military Security Command are known only from secondary sources and are omitted.
  • Whether the Strategic Force and Special Operation Forces report to the General Staff or directly to the Supreme Commander is not published.

Equipment fingerprint

Holdings by taxonomy: row 1 the ministry and its services, row 2 the six domains, row 3 the categories, row 4 each platform held as wide as its count, row 5 its split into active, reserve and on order. A hatched segment is a platform held with no published count.

Holdings

One row per platform held. Each figure is a claim with a source: the most recent official figure where one is published, else the most recent Wikipedia equipment list, else SIPRI's delivered total. Figures are never averaged.

112 of 112 platforms
ReserveOn orderFigure from
Land · Main battle tank
Chonma-hoKPA Ground ForceMain battle tank700–1,300North KoreaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
T-54/55KPA Ground ForceMain battle tank700–1,300Soviet UnionWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
T-62KPA Ground ForceMain battle tank560–1,040Soviet Union1961Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Type 59KPA Ground ForceMain battle tank122–228China1959Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Pokpung-hoKPA Ground ForceMain battle tank70–130North Korea2002Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Cheonma-2KPA Ground ForceMain battle tank7–13North KoreaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Armoured personnel carrier
BTR-60KPA Ground ForceArmoured personnel carrier840–1,560Soviet Union1959Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
YW531KPA Ground ForceArmoured personnel carrier350–650ChinaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
BTR-80AKPA Ground ForceArmoured personnel carrier22–42Soviet Union1986Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Reconnaissance and light armour
PT-76KPA Ground ForceReconnaissance and light armour392–728Soviet Union1952Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Self-propelled artillery
Chuch'e-PoKPA Ground ForceSelf-propelled artilleryheldUnknownWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
KoksanKPA Ground ForceSelf-propelled artilleryheldNorth Korea1978Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
TokchonKPA Ground ForceSelf-propelled artilleryheldUnknownWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Towed artillery
S-60KPA Ground ForceTowed artillery420–780Soviet Union1950Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
KS-19KPA Ground ForceTowed artillery350–650Soviet Union1947Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
122 mm gun M1931/37 (A-19)KPA Ground ForceTowed artilleryheldSoviet UnionWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
152 mm howitzer M1938 (M-10)KPA Ground ForceTowed artilleryheldSoviet UnionWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
152 mm howitzer M1943KPA Ground ForceTowed artilleryheldSoviet Union1943Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20)KPA Ground ForceTowed artilleryheldSoviet UnionWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
ZPUKPA Ground ForceTowed artilleryheldSoviet Union1949Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Rocket artillery and MLRS
M142 HIMARSKPA Ground ForceRocket artillery and MLRS85–159United States1996Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
BM-11KPA Ground ForceRocket artillery and MLRSheldSoviet Union1963Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
KN-09KPA Ground ForceRocket artillery and MLRSheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
KN-25KPA Ground Force, KPA Strategic ForceRocket artillery and MLRSheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
M-1977KPA Ground ForceRocket artillery and MLRSheldSoviet Union1963Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
M-1985KPA Ground ForceRocket artillery and MLRSheldSoviet Union1963Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Type 63 rocket launcherKPA Ground ForceRocket artillery and MLRSheldChina1961Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Mortars (120 mm+)
M1943KPA Ground ForceMortars (120 mm+)heldSoviet UnionWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Anti-tank missile system
9M113 KonkursKPA Ground ForceAnti-tank missile systemheldSoviet Union1974Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
9M133 KornetKPA Ground ForceAnti-tank missile systemheldRussia1994Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
RPG-7KPA Ground ForceAnti-tank missile systemheldSoviet Union1960Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Ground-based air defence (short range)
37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939KPA Ground ForceGround-based air defence (short range)700–1,300Soviet UnionWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K)KPA Ground ForceGround-based air defence (short range)280–520Soviet UnionWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
9K111 FagotKPA Ground ForceGround-based air defence (short range)heldSoviet Union1970Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
9K32 Strela-2KPA Ground ForceGround-based air defence (short range)heldSoviet Union1968Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
9K38 IglaKPA Ground ForceGround-based air defence (short range)heldSoviet Union1981Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Land · Ground-based air defence (medium and long range)
S-125KPA Air ForceGround-based air defence (medium and long range)210–390Soviet Union1961Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
S-200KPA Air ForceGround-based air defence (medium and long range)52–98Soviet Union1967Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
9K35 Strela-10KPA Ground ForceGround-based air defence (medium and long range)heldSoviet Union1979Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
KN-06KPA Air ForceGround-based air defence (medium and long range)heldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Pyoljji-1-2KPA Air ForceGround-based air defence (medium and long range)heldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Sea · Amphibious assault ship
PT-85KPA Ground ForceAmphibious assault ship392–728North KoreaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
9P122KPA Ground ForceAmphibious assault shipheldSoviet Union1962Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Fleet Ocean TugboatKorean People's NavyAmphibious assault shipheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
air-cushioned landing craftKorean People's NavyAmphibious assault shipheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
cutterKorean People's NavyAmphibious assault shipheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
landing craft mechanizedKorean People's NavyAmphibious assault shipheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
landing craft utilityKorean People's NavyAmphibious assault shipheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
vehicle and personnel landing craftKorean People's NavyAmphibious assault shipheldItalyWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
Sea · Destroyer
destroyerKorean People's NavyDestroyerheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
Sea · Frigate
corvetteKorean People's NavyFrigateheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
Sea · Fast attack and patrol craft
patrol vesselKorean People's NavyFast attack and patrol craftheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
stealth shipKorean People's NavyFast attack and patrol craftheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
torpedo boatKorean People's NavyFast attack and patrol craftheldNorth Korea1991Wikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
Sea · Nuclear-powered submarine
frigateKorean People's NavyNuclear-powered submarineheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
Sea · Conventional submarine
Diesel-electric submarineKorean People's NavyConventional submarineheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
coastal submarineKorean People's NavyConventional submarineheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
midget submarineKorean People's NavyConventional submarineheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
submarine tenderKorean People's NavyConventional submarineheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
Sea · Replenishment and auxiliary
submarine rescue shipKorean People's NavyReplenishment and auxiliaryheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of active ships of the Korean People's Navylow
Air · Fighter and multirole
Shenyang J-5KPA Air ForceFighter and multirole74–138ChinaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Shenyang J-6 F-6CKPA Air ForceFighter and multirole68–126China1961Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mikoyan MiG-29KPA Air ForceFighter and multirole24–46Soviet Union1983Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Chengdu J-7 F-7IKPA Air ForceFighter and multirole21–39ChinaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21KPA Air ForceFighter and multirole18–34Soviet Union1959Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · Strike and bomber
Ilyushin Il-28 H-5KPA Air ForceStrike and bomber56–104Russia1950Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23KPA Air ForceStrike and bomber39–73Soviet Union1970Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Sukhoi Su-25 KKPA Air ForceStrike and bomber24–44Soviet Union1981Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Sukhoi Su-25 UBKKPA Air ForceStrike and bomber24–44Soviet Union1981Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · Attack helicopter
Mil Mi-24KPA Air ForceAttack helicopter14–26Soviet Union1969Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · Airborne early warning and control
Ilyushin Il-76 indigenous conversionKPA Air ForceAirborne early warning and control1–1Soviet Union1974Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · ISR and electronic warfare aircraft
Tupolev Tu-143KPA Air ForceISR and electronic warfare aircraftheldSoviet Union1982Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · Trainer
Shenyang J-5 FT-5KPA Air ForceTrainer94–176ChinaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Shenyang FT-2KPA Air ForceTrainer21–39Soviet Union1949Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 UTIKPA Air ForceTrainer3–5Soviet Union1949Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · Transport aircraft
Antonov An-2KPA Air ForceTransport aircraft189–351Soviet Union1947Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
P-750 XSTOLKPA Air ForceTransport aircraft2–4New ZealandWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Antonov An-24KPA Air ForceTransport aircraft1–1Soviet Union1962Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · Transport and utility helicopter
MD Helicopters MD 500 DKPA Air ForceTransport and utility helicopter59–109United StatesWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mil Mi-2 TKPA Air ForceTransport and utility helicopter34–62Soviet Union1965Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Z-5KPA Air ForceTransport and utility helicopter34–62ChinaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mil Mi-8KPA Air ForceTransport and utility helicopter29–53Soviet Union1965Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mil Mi-14KPA Air ForceTransport and utility helicopter6–10Soviet Union1977Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Mi-26 TKPA Air ForceTransport and utility helicopter3–5Soviet Union1985Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Air · ISR UAV
Yakovlev PchelaKPA Air ForceISR UAV7–13Soviet Union1990Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Saetbyol-4KPA Air ForceISR UAVheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Saetbyol-9KPA Air ForceISR UAVheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Space · ISR satellite
Malligyong-1KPA Air ForceISR satelliteheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Air Forcelow
Strategic · Intercontinental ballistic missile
Hwasong-14KPA Strategic ForceIntercontinental ballistic missileheldNorth Korea2017Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-15KPA Strategic ForceIntercontinental ballistic missileheldNorth Korea2017Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-17KPA Strategic ForceIntercontinental ballistic missileheldNorth Korea2020Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-18KPA Strategic ForceIntercontinental ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-19KPA Strategic ForceIntercontinental ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Strategic · Submarine-launched ballistic missile
Hwasong-11SKPA Strategic ForceSubmarine-launched ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Strategic · Intermediate and medium-range ballistic missile
Hwasong-12KPA Strategic ForceIntermediate and medium-range ballistic missileheldNorth Korea2017Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-16BKPA Strategic ForceIntermediate and medium-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-7KPA Strategic ForceIntermediate and medium-range ballistic missileheldNorth Korea1995Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-9KPA Strategic ForceIntermediate and medium-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Pukguksong-2KPA Strategic ForceIntermediate and medium-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Strategic · Short-range ballistic missile
2K6 LunaKPA Ground ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldSoviet Union1960Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
9K52 Luna-MKPA Ground ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldSoviet Union1964Wikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Hwasong-11AKPA Strategic ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-11BKPA Strategic ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-11CKPA Strategic ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-11DKPA Ground Force, KPA Strategic ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
Hwasong-5KPA Strategic ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth Korea1985Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasong-6KPA Strategic ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth Korea1989Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
KN-02KPA Ground ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: List of equipment of the Korean People's Army Ground Forcelow
KN-18KPA Strategic ForceShort-range ballistic missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Strategic · Land-attack cruise missile
Hwasal-1KPA Strategic ForceLand-attack cruise missileheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Hwasal-2KPA Strategic ForceLand-attack cruise missileheldNorth Korea2021Wikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow
Strategic · Hypersonic
Hwasong-8KPA Strategic ForceHypersonicheldNorth KoreaWikipedia: Korean People's Army Strategic Forcelow

Suppliers

Origin nations by share of active platforms, the domestic bar first. Colours follow the origin highlight: domestic, allied or treaty partner, other foreign.

North Korea

Soviet Union

China

United States

Russia

New Zealand

1,670

7,089

1,091

206

80

3

Sources for this nation

  • wikipedia:korean-people-s-army-air-force
  • wikipedia:korean-people-s-army-strategic-force
  • wikipedia:list-of-active-ships-of-the-korean-people-s-navy
  • wikipedia:list-of-equipment-of-the-korean-people-s-army-ground-force

Structure: ref/units/PRK.yaml, every body with the source that acknowledges it. See sources and methodology.