Defense industry of North Korea explained

North Korea's defence industry predates the Korean War, but has emerged as a major supplier to the North Korean armed forces beginning in the 1970s,^[1] but increasingly so after the fall of the Soviet Union and to supplement those purchased from China.^[1] Most equipment produced are copies of Soviet and Chinese built military hardware.

Military factories

Tanks, arms, and missiles

• First Machine Industry Bureau - supplier of machine guns, likely Type 62 Light Machine Gun and Type 73 Light Machine Gun^[2]
• Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory - Sinhung South Hamgyong Province^[3]
• Second Machine Industry Bureau - Sŏngch'ŏn-kun, South Pyongan Province - builds Chonma-ho and Pokpung-ho MBT; likely Chuch'e-Po and Koksan artillery gun
• Third Machine Industry Bureau: Multi-stage rockets
• Fourth Machine Industry Bureau: Guided missiles
• Fifth Machine Industry Bureau: Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons
• Tokhyon Munitions Plant^[4]

Naval

• Bong Dao Bo Shipyards, Sinpo - located on the mainland across from Mayang-do Naval base - builder of the Sang-O and Gorae class Submarines.^[5]
• Mayang-do Naval Shipyards, in northeast coast - maintenance facility with graving dock; has built some ships for the navy (12 Romeo class submarines)
• Najin Shipyards - Kowan-Class submarine rescue ship, Soho class frigates and Najin class frigates
• Nampho Shipyards - located on west coast and builds small- and medium-size submarines (Sang-O and Yugo?)
• Wonsan Shipyards - located on east coast and builds small- and medium-size submarines (Sang-O and Yugo?)
• Yukdaeso-ri Shipyards - located on west coast and has built midget submarines (Yugo-class submarines or Yono-class submarines) since the 1960s
• Sixth Machine Industry Bureau: Battleships and submarines

Aircraft

There are no known indigenous aircraft built in North Korea, factories supply components or parts for current aircraft flown such as for Tumansky RD-9 turbojet engine used by Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 and Shenyang J-6.^[6]

Another is additional sub systems for aircraft such as Tactical air navigation system that for example were known to be exported to Syria.^[7]

• Ch’onjin - small factory used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force.^[8]
• Taechon - used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force.^[8]
• Panghyon - North Korea's primary aircraft assembly, repair and research facility established in the mid-1980s.^{[9] [10]}
• Seventh Machine Industry Bureau: Production and purchase of war planes

Space

• National Aerospace Development Administration

Bibliography

• Book: Bermudez Jr., Joseph S. . The Armed Forces of North Korea . I.B. Tauris . 2001 . 1-86064-486-4 .

External links

• North Korean Army Equipment
• North Korean Air Force Equipment

Notes and References

1. Web site: John Pike . Korean People's Army - Equipment Introduction . Globalsecurity.org . 2017-04-12.
2. Bermudez Jr., p. 50.
3. Web site: Asia Times . https://web.archive.org/web/20020803124322/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/DG06Dg01.html . unfit . 2002-08-03 . Atimes.com . 2002-07-06 . 2017-04-12.
4. Web site: Air Force. Fas.org. 2017-04-12.
5. Web site: Cook. Damen. North Korea's Most Important Submarine Base. The Diplomat. 18 October 2017.
6. Web site: 북한의 무인기 MM-1. 유용원의. 군사세계. 유용원의 군사세계. Nov 28, 2022.
7. Web site: Flying under the radar - Syria's 'Special Purpose' Mi-17s. Nov 28, 2022.
8. Web site: North Korea AF Narrative History. Aeroflight. 19 October 2017.
9. Book: Bermudez Jr. Joseph S.. The armed forces of North Korea. 2001. I.B. Tauris. London. 1860645003. 156–160.
10. News: North Korea's Hwasong-14 Missile Launch Site Identified: The Panghyon Aircraft Factory 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea. 27 July 2017. 38 North. 6 July 2017.