Korean People's Army

Combined military forces of North Korea

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March 8 2025 North Korea announced and revealed the construction of a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, estimated to weigh between 5000 to 8000 tons and capable of carrying about 10 missiles.
March 8 2025 Construction of a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was announced and publicly shown.
2024 Admiral Samuel Paparo of the US Indo-Pacific Command reported potential acquisition of MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters from Russia in exchange for troops supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
December 2024 North Korea begins constructing guided missile frigates with dozens of VLS cells at Chongjin and Nampo Shipyards, with an estimated displacement of 4000 tons.
October 2024 Successfully tested Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 18,000 km.
April 2024 Successfully tested Hwasong-16B, a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile.
March 2024 Kim Jong Un was pictured driving a newly developed tank and conducting military drills, stating the exercises were preparation for war.
January 2024 Successfully tested Hwasong-16B, a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile.
January 2024 Successfully tested Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missile twice.
2023 North Korean-made missiles were used to attack Ukraine, providing an opportunity for North Korea to test missiles and expand its nuclear and ballistic missile programs while violating international sanctions.
September 6 2023 Launching ceremony conducted at Sinpo south shipyard for induction of Hero Kim Kun Ok SSB.
August 21 2023 Korean People's Navy launched Hwasal-2 land attack cruise missile from Amnok-class guided missile corvette.
April 2023 Successfully tested Hwasong-18, the first solid-fuel ICBM in North Korean missile arsenal, with a range of 15,000 km.
March 13 2023 The Sinpo-class submarine 8.24 Yongung launched two submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs).
2022 North Korea tested the Pongae-6 SAM system, which is based on the advanced Russian S-400 air defense technology, demonstrating continued development of indigenous air defense capabilities.
April 2022 The Korean People's Army Air Force (KPAF) underwent a name change, transitioning from being known as the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force to its current designation.
March 2022 Successfully tested Hwasong-17 mod 1 intercontinental ballistic missile with a range over 13,000 km.
2021 US Defense Intelligence Agency report assessed the KPAF's most modern assets as MiG-29 and MiG-23, with Su-25 ground attack and Ilyushin Il-28 bomber aircraft having some operational capability.
2021 During the 8th Workers' Party Congress, the military's power was further decreased, with military delegates dropping from 719 to 408, and the 'military-first policy' was removed from the party charter.
September 2021 First launched Hwasong-11A (KN-23) missile from a railcar.
2020 North Korea expanded its missile brigades from 8 to 13 between these years.
2020 A RAND Corporation study was conducted examining potential artillery bombardment scenarios involving North Korea.
October 10 2020 In the 10 October parade, the Korean People's Army unveiled at least five new pixelated camouflage patterns, including green, arid, blue, and mountain/winter warfare designs. The parade also first documented the use of MultiCam pattern uniforms by North Korean military personnel.
March 2020 Tested Hwasong-11B (KN-24) missile.
February 2020 Analysis of 820th Armoured Corps revealed to include two armoured and five mechanised brigades, with partial equipment of Pokpung-ho tanks.
2019 KPA's official date of establishment reverted back to the original 8 February 1948.
October 2 2019 The Sinpo-class submarine 8.24 Yongung conducted a test launch of the Pukguksong-3 missile.
August 2019 Conducted further tests of Hwasong-11A (KN-23) missile.
July 2019 Conducted additional tests of Hwasong-11A (KN-23) missile.
May 2019 Conducted tests of Hwasong-11A (KN-23) missile.
2018 The ROK's Ministry of National Defense released a bi-annual report estimating the Korean People's Navy (KPN) inventory at 430 combat ships, 250 landing crafts, 20 mine layers, 40 support ships, and 70 submarines.
2018 Testing of four new road-mobile, solid propellant short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) marked a qualitative improvement in North Korean missile technology.
2018 ROK's Ministry of National Defense bi-annual report identified North Korean Army's strength at 7,620,000 reserve troops, 4,300 tanks, 2,500 armored vehicles, 8,600 artillery guns, and 5,500 multiple rocket launchers.
November 15 2018 North Korea successfully tested a 'newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon', which was observed by leader Kim Jong Un at the Academy of Defense Science. Kim called the test a 'decisive turn' in enhancing the army's combat capabilities.
2017 IISS Military Balance reported KPAGF comprising an estimated 1,020,000 personnel with complex organizational structure including multiple corps, divisions, and brigades.
2017 A new rifle with an integrated grenade launcher was displayed during the Day of the Sun military parade, resembling the U.S. OICW or South Korean S&T Daewoo K11 weapon system.
November 2017 Successfully tested Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 13,000 km.
September 3 2017 North Korean leadership announced its first hydrogen bomb detonation at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Hamgyong Province. The underground test occurred at 12:00 pm local time, with South Korean officials estimating a yield of 50 kilotons of explosive force.
July 2017 Successfully tested Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of over 10,000 km.
July 2017 North Korea conducted two tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying a large nuclear warhead, which were confirmed by the Pentagon. These tests demonstrated potential missile capabilities that could potentially reach mainland U.S. territory.
May 2017 Tested KN-18, a Scud-C variant that carries a Maneuverable reentry vehicle.
May 2017 Tested Hwasong-11A (KN-23) short-range ballistic missile.
April 2017 Tested KN-21, a Scud-B/Hwasong-5 variant with maneuvering capabilities.
2016 Construction of the Sil-li missile support facility next to Pyongyang International Airport was completed between 2016 and 2020.
2016 State Affairs Commission replaced the National Defence Commission in overseeing paramilitary organizations like the Worker-Peasant Red Guards.
June 29 2016 Kim Jong Un became the chairman of the State Affairs Commission following constitutional amendments that abolished the National Defence Commission.
March 2015 The new submarine was observed at sea during trials, accompanied by a test of the Pukguksong-1 (KN-11) missile.
2014 Kh-35 missiles were installed on one of the two old Najin-class frigates, replacing previous obsolete KN-01 missiles.
2014 Modernization of the Hodo Peninsula rocket and missile testing facility was completed.
December 2014 Bureau 121 was accused of hacking Sony Pictures and making threats, leading to the cancellation of The Interview film.

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This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Korean People's Army Strategic Force, Korean People's Army, Korean People's Army Air Force, Korean People's Navy & Korean People's Army Ground Force, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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