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.