Korean People's Army Special Operations Forces Explained

Unit Name:	Korean People's Army Special Operations Forces
Native Name:	조선인민군 특수작전군 朝鮮人民軍 特殊作戰軍 Chosŏn-inmin'gun teugsujagjeongun
Dates:	–present
Allegiance:	Workers' Party of Korea
Type:	Special forces
Role:	Special operations
Size:	200,000^[1] ^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5]
Identification Symbol 3 Label:	Flag

The Korean People's Army Special Operations Forces (KPASOF; Korean: 조선인민군 특수작전군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍 特殊作戰軍; Chosŏn-inmin'gun teugsujagjeongun) are the special forces of Korean People's Army. It performs military, political, and psychological operations. KPASOF actively tests South Korea; activities were detected in the decades following the Korean War.^{[6] [7]}

It is estimated that there are 200,000 SOF soldiers.^[8]

Mission

The missions of the KPA Special Operations Forces are to breach the fixed defense of South Korea, to create a "second front" in the enemy's rear area, and to conduct battlefield and strategic reconnaissance.^{[9] [10]}

History

North Korean special operations forces existed by late-1968 when maritime commandos made the unsuccessful Uljin–Samcheok Landings against South Korea.^[11] According to Kim Il Sung, the Special Operation Force (then known as the VIII Special Purposes Corps) was "the strongest elite force of the entire Korean People's Army and is the unique vanguard force of the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

2017

A new special forces unit wearing modern combat gear, including night-vision goggles and plate carriers, appeared in the Day of the Sun military parade on 15 April 2017. According to North Korean state media, the new elite unit, the Lightning Commandos, was intended to counter the U.S. Navy SEALs and Republic of Korea Navy Special Warfare Flotilla, calling it the Lightning Commandos.^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

2023

On July 27, 2023, soldiers from the 41st Amphibious Assault Battalion marched during a military parade.^[16]

Weapons

• Type 88-2 "Top Folding Stock" – North Korean AK-74 copy used with helical magazine attached, now being used alongside the Type 98 as well. The Type 88-2 features a more standard AK-74 receiver frame while the Type 98 is slightly more modified.^[17]
• Type 88 Carbine – North Korean copy of AK-105. Featured with picatinny rail, foregrip and flashlight attachment.^{[18] [19]}
• Type 98 – Variant of the Type 88-2 "Top Folding Stock" with a Helical Magazine that is believed to hold between 75 and 150 rounds of 5.45×39mm and it has a few exterior modifications in the shape of the weapons near where the stock folds. Features shorter barrel than the Type 88.^[20]
• M16A1 – Locally made copies. Seen in use by North Korean Commandos infiltrating South Korea via midget submarine in 1996, known as the 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident.^{[21] [22]}
• K2 – Locally made copies in production since the 1990s.^[23] North Korean commandos with imitation South Korean military digital camo uniforms and K2 rifle copies were observed by South Korean army soldiers during their shelling of South Korea across along the Western Front in 2015.^[24]
• Baek Du San – North Korean version of the CZ-75 pistol, the KPA Special Operation Force model features a larger magazine base plate and features a tactical wooden grip in a chest holster, unlike the standard Baek Du San given to standard soldiers, or the chrome plate engraved one given to generals and other high-ranking officers.
• Sterling Submachine Gun – Used by North Korean commandos during infiltration missions into South Korea.
• vz.61 – Used by elite North Korean commandos.

Organization

Airborne

The Antonov An-2 transport aircraft is used for infiltration.^[25] The aircraft may conduct paradrops or land on highways.

Reconnaissance Brigades

Sometimes known as "sniper" brigades, they are part of the ground intelligence effort of the KPA. These units also have the ability to perform Direct Action. They train and equip to seize or destroy strategic targets within South Korean territory. Additionally, it is suspected that these units carry out assassination attempts.

Light Infantry

The role of the light infantry is the "rapid infiltration and disruption of enemy rear areas through concealed movement". Missions include the seizure forward area lines of communication, and destruction of high-value targets such as nuclear or chemical sites. The light infantry lack amphibious warfare training, but are otherwise similar to the amphibious light infantry. Places that they may be found include the North China Sea.

Maritime SOF

Estimates reveal that the North Koreans can deliver over 7,000 SOF personnel to each of South Korea's coastlines.^[26] Based on the number of ships available to the KPA special forces, they could deliver 5,000 of these soldiers in one lift (approximately 102 amphibious craft). It is expected that these special forces once ashore, will attempt to infiltrate South Korea's rugged terrain to attack the South Koreans in their rear areas just before and during the renewed commencement of hostilities between the two countries. Further, the added capability of a small ship with "stealthy" characteristics enables the commandos the ability to ferry to the South Korean coastline.^[27]

Like other special forces around the world, close coordination with their sister services provides the needed transportation around the battlefield. For the Maritime SOF, the most commonly used component for modern infiltration has been using the KPA Navy's submarines. The KPA Navy has 24 Romeo class diesel electric submarines. These submarines are used primarily in coastal areas and are an excellent platform to deposit units offshore. Specially outfitted Sang-O class submarines carry a small crew of nineteen and serve the sole purpose of coastal infiltration. Finally, the KPA Navy possesses at least forty-five midget submarines ideally suited to infiltrate two to five man teams into South Korean territory.^[28] Such small submarines prove difficult to detect among the rugged coastlines of the Korean Peninsula.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Military Stalemate: How North Korea Could Win a War with the US.
2. Web site: 2016 Defense White Paper . Ministry of National Defense . 25 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019152842/https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/mndEN/upload/pblictn/PBLICTNEBOOK_201705180357180050.pdf . 19 October 2021 . 29 . English.
3. News: North Korea's new 'tactical' weapon test highlights military modernization. Reuters. 18 November 2018.
4. Web site: North Korean Special Operations Forces: Hovercraft Bases (Part I). 25 January 2018.
5. News: North Korea: What we know about its missile and nuclear programme. BBC News. 17 January 2022.
6. Web site: Richard Lloyd. Parry. Captured sub shames North Korea. The Independent. June 24, 1998. April 7, 2013.
7. Web site: Nicholas D.. Kristof. One Commando Still At Large In Korea Submarine Manhunt. The New York Times. November 6, 1996. April 7, 2013.
8. Web site: N.Korea Boosts Special Forces, Conventional Arms.
9. Handbook, North Korea, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C., 1993, p. 3-119
10. Encyclopedia: 1994. North Korea: a country study. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. Washington, D.C.. Savada. Andrea Matles. 4th. 224. 0-8444-0794-1. . .
11. Bolger, Daniel P., "Scenes from an Unfinished War: Low Intensity Conflict in Korea, 1966–1969", Leavenworth Papers No. 19, Combat Studies Institute, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, p. 86
12. Web site: N.Korea state media confirms new special forces unit unveiled during Saturday's parade. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/7Zs1XNf_XnM . 2021-12-20 . live. ARIRANG NEWS. 17 April 2017. YouTube.
13. News: North Korea's show of force. 21 April 2017. Reuters.
14. Web site: Why North Korea's Special Operations Forces Should Not Be Underestimated. Brian Adam. Jones. 21 April 2017. 24 April 2017. 4 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191104185830/https://taskandpurpose.com/north-korea-special-operations-forces. dead.
15. Web site: N.Korea Touts Special Ops Forces.
16. https://archive.today/20230829142851/https://www.nknews.org/2023/08/why-north-korea-debuted-a-new-battalion-to-hunt-down-south-korean-pirates/#selection-1099.41-1099.75
17. Web site: North Korean Helical AK Magazines – Armament Research Services. armamentresearch.com. 4 February 2014.
18. Web site: 2023-03-09 . The Elite Small Arms Of North Korea . 2023-10-11 . 21st Century Asian Arms Race . en.
19. Web site: 2023-07-05 . 3D model KPA Type 88 Bullpup - TurboSquid 2092626 . 2023-10-29 . www.turbosquid.com . en-US.
20. Web site: North Korean Rare Type 98 Assault Rifle – Military Forum. 2017-09-18. 2017-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20170928103251/http://engforum.pravda.ru/index.php?/topic/272441-north-korean-rare-type-98-assault-rifle/. dead.
21. News: A Weapon Displayed From North Korea Special Forces and their Submarine . . 25 September 1996.
22. Web site: Equipment of North Korean Special Forces and Espionage . Yu Yong-won's Military World, Chosun Ilbo . 16 April 2013.
23. Web site: 시사저널 – 북한 5만 특공대, 저공 침투 대기중. sisapress.com. 19 September 1996. https://web.archive.org/web/20180603132742/http://www.sisapress.com/journal/article/86452. 3 June 2018.
24. News: North Korea and South Korea Trade Fire Across Border, Seoul Says. The New York Times. 20 August 2015. Sang-Hun. Choe.
25. Bermudez, Joseph S. Jr., "North Korean Special Forces" (1988), Jane‘s Publishing Company, Surrey, United Kingdom
26. Military Review, "Solving Threat SOF Challenges", MarApr 98, General John H. Tilelli Jr., U.S. Army, and Lieutenant Colonel William P. Gerhardt, U.S. Army
27. Major Troy P. Krause (U.S.), "Countering North Korean Special Purpose Forces", Air Command and Staff College, Air University, April 1999, Accessed 30 May 2009
28. Andrew Toppan, "World Navies Today: North Korea", Hazegray Online, Accessed 30 May 2009