PPT Slide

NORTH KOREAN MILITARY

• Fourth largest military force in the world

• Over 1.2 million active

• 5 million reserve personnel

PYONGYANG

DMZ

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THE DPRK REMAINS THE WORLD’S MOST MILITARISTIC STATE. THE DPRK MAINTAINS IMPOSING FORCES OF OVER ONE MILLION PERSONNEL ON ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE FORCES TOTALING OVER 5 MILLION. THIS MAKES NORTH KOREA THE FOURTH LARGEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD. THE MAJORITY OF DPRK FORCES ARE FORWARD DEPLOYED IN ATTACK POSITIONS WITHIN 65KM (40NM) OF THE DMZ, POISED AND CAPABLE AT ANY TIME OF LAUNCHING AN OFFENSIVE ATTACK. THIS CONCENTRATION ALONG THE BORDER SUPPORTS A MILITARY STRATEGY THAT IS DIRECTED AGAINST THE ROK.

THE NORTH KOREAN GROUND FORCES ARE BY FAR THE LARGEST AND MOST FORMIDABLE ELEMENT OF THEIR ARMED FORCES. IN THE 1980’S ARMY FORCE STRUCTURE BECAME INCREASINGLY MOBILE, AND WE SAW A DRAMATIC AND STEADY INCREASE IN TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, AND SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY PIECES.

N.K. HAS A MANDATORY CONSCRIPTION PROGRAM WHERE AT THE AGE OF 17 THEY EITHER ENTER THE MILITARY OR BECOME PART OF THE ENLISTED RED GUARD MILITIA. IN N.K., 40 OF EVERY 1000 PEOPLE SERVE IN UNIFORM COMPARED TO S.K. WHERE ONLY 14 OF 1000 SERVE IN THE MILITARY.