About our North Korea Military news
Latest news on the North Korea's military and their development domestically and scientifically. Get breaking news on exercises, expansion and more.
The North Korean military is the armed wing of the Workers' Party of Korea and the central institution of North Korean society under the Songun policy, "military first", which prioritises the needs of the military over those of the civilian population. It is one of the largest and most powerful military forces in the world, with more than 1.2 million active personnel, 600,000 reserves, and a large arsenal of conventional and unconventional weapons.
The North Korean military consists of five branches: the Ground Force, the Naval Force, the Air and Anti-Air Force, the Strategic Rocket Forces, and the Special Operation Force. The Ground Force is the largest branch, with more than one million soldiers and 6,000 tanks and armoured vehicles. The Naval Force has 83 submarines and a fleet of missile boats. The Air and Anti-Air Force has around 1,300 aircraft and 11,000 anti-aircraft guns. The Special Operation Force has around 200,000 elite troops trained for infiltration, sabotage, and guerrilla warfare.
The Strategic Rocket Forces control North Korea's nuclear and conventional missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the United States. The country's nuclear programme has been a major source of tension with the international community, and North Korea has conducted several nuclear tests in recent years despite widespread condemnation.
Military service is mandatory for all able-bodied men and women in North Korea, and the country's military parades and displays of force are highly choreographed and symbolic. The North Korean military is under the command of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.