Defense industry of North Korea

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. During peacetime it is estimated that munitions factories can produce 2 million artillery shells annually for the 152mm caliber howitzer.[2]

Military factories

Enterprise Location Coordinates Additional information
No. 26 Factory Kanggye Kanggye General Tractor Factory
No. 38 Factory Huichon Huichon General Machinery Tool Factory
No. 65 Factory Hakmu, Jonchon 40°37′48″N 126°25′51″E / 40.6301°N 126.4309°E / 40.6301; 126.4309 Jonchon 2.8 Machinery Factory
Pyorha-ri Armament Factory Songgan
No. 301 Factory Suwon-ri, Taegwan 40°14′05″N 125°14′45″E / 40.2347°N 125.2459°E / 40.2347; 125.2459
Kusong Machine Tool Factory Kusong 40°03′11″N 125°12′06″E / 40.053°N 125.2018°E / 40.053; 125.2018
Sungni Automobile Factory Tokchon
January 18 Machine Factory Kagam-dong, Kaechon
Kumsong Tractor Factory Nampho
Thaesong Machine Factory Nampho Nampho Chamjin Munitions Factory
No. 125 Factory Pyongyang Pyongyang Pig Farm
No. 7 Factory Pyongyang
Pyongyang Weak-Current Apparatus Factory Pyongyang
Mangyongdae Weak-Current Apparatus Factory Pyongyang Pyongyang Pigeon Farm
Pyongyang Semiconductor Factory Pyongyang
Sanum-dong Research Center Pyongyang
October 3 Plant[3] Munchon 39°18′51″N 127°25′15″E / 39.31417°N 127.42083°E / 39.31417; 127.42083 Munchon Naval Base[4]
February 11 Plant[5][6] Hamhung 39°55′18″N 127°39′33″E / 39.92167°N 127.65917°E / 39.92167; 127.65917
Hamhung Chemical Materials Research Center Hamhung
Sariwon Weapons Factory Sariwon
Sinuiju Measuring Instrument Factory Sinuiju 40°04′09″N 124°26′21″E / 40.06928°N 124.43914°E / 40.06928; 124.43914
No. 81 Factory Songgan Songgan Steel Mill
March 16 Factory Pyongsong Pyongnam Machine Factory
References: [7][8]

Tanks, arms, and missiles

  • First Machine Industry Bureau - supplier of machine guns, likely Type 62 Light Machine Gun and Type 73 Light Machine Gun[9]
  • Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory - Sinhung South Hamgyong Province[10]
  • 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[11]
  • Bong Dao Bo Shipyards, Sinpo - located on the mainland across from Mayang-do Naval base - builder of the Sang-O and Gorae class Submarines.[12]
  • Mayang-do Naval Shipyards, Mayang-do Island 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.[13] Agreement between China and North Korea was reached in August of 1974 to construct maintenance facility for J-6 fighter jets, completion was not achieved until 1987 due to North Korea requesting for facility to also maintain J-5 and J-7. Capacity of the facility involving J-6 is to service 50 aircraft and 400 of WP-6 engines along manufacture common spare parts, also includes special tools and molds.[14]

Another is additional sub systems for aircraft such as Tactical air navigation system that for example were known to be exported to Syria.[15]

  • Ch’onjin - small factory used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force.[16]
  • Taechon - used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force.[16]
  • Panghyon - North Korea's primary aircraft assembly, repair and research facility established in the mid-1980s.[17][18]
  • Seventh Machine Industry Bureau: Production and purchase of war planes

Space

See also

References

  1. 1 2 John Pike. "Korean People's Army - Equipment Introduction". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  2. ↑ https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-11-06/national/northKorea/Expert-says-North-likely-to-ramp-up-production-of-shells-for-Russia/1907006
  3. ↑ Zwirko, Colin (2026-08-10). "North Korea restarts east coast naval base project for new warships, submarines". NK News. Archived from the original on 2026-08-12. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  4. ↑ Melvin, Curtis; Bermudez, Joseph (2016-09-01). "KPA Navy Upgrades in the East Sea". 38 North. Archived from the original on 2026-08-12. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  5. ↑ Zwirko, Colin (2023-08-14). "Arms odyssey: Inside Kim Jong Un's second tour of weapons factories this month". NK News. Archived from the original on 2026-08-06.
  6. ↑ Zwirko, Colin (2026-07-29). "North Korea builds, then buries new facility at main SRBM factory for Russia". Archived from the original on 2026-08-06.
  7. ↑ "North Korean Munitions Factories: The Other Side of Arms Transfers to Russia add in North Korea Defense Industry". 38 North. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  8. ↑ Zwirko, Colin (2024-07-26). "North Korea expands factories making anti-tank missiles Russia reportedly wants". NK News. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  9. ↑ Bermudez Jr., p. 50.
  10. ↑ "Asia Times". Atimes.com. 2002-07-06. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  11. ↑ "Air Force". Fas.org. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  12. ↑ Cook, Damen. "North Korea's Most Important Submarine Base". The Diplomat. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  13. ↑ 군사세계, 유용원의. "북한의 무인기 MM-1". 유용원의 군사세계. Retrieved Nov 28, 2022.
  14. ↑ https://user.guancha.cn/main/content?id=447082&s=fwzwyzzwzbt
  15. ↑ "Flying under the radar - Syria's 'Special Purpose' Mi-17s". Retrieved Nov 28, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "North Korea AF Narrative History". Aeroflight. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  17. ↑ Bermudez Jr, Joseph S. (2001). The armed forces of North Korea. London: I.B. Tauris. pp. 156–160. ISBN 1860645003.
  18. ↑ "North Korea's Hwasong-14 Missile Launch Site Identified: The Panghyon Aircraft Factory | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.

Bibliography

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