July 21, 2024, 3:03 pm
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (AKA North Korea) is perhaps the strangest military power we’ve ever had a detailed look at on this channel from a defence economic perspective.
It’s a nation of extremes – building nuclear weapons and ICBMs while requiring food aid, and fielding one of the world’s largest active duty militaries with a population not that different from the likes of Australia.
With the recent signing of a partnership agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow, I thought it was finally time for a more detailed look at the DPRK and the Korean People’s army.
Be aware, this is going to be a slightly weird one.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PerunAU
Reading and Sourcing (abridged due to delayed releasee):
Unless otherwise noted, platform and personnel estimates are per MB2022 for consistency with other episodes.
US Defense Intelligence Agency – North Korean Military Power 2021
https://www.dia.mil/Portals/110/Documents/News/NKMP.pdf
Foreign Language Publishing House (North Korea), Kim Jong Il Biography
https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-jong-il/bio/biography-vol1.pdf
https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-jong-il/bio/biography-vol2.pdf
https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-jong-il/bio/biography-vol3.pdf
https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-jong-il/bio/biography-vol4.pdf
ATP 7-100.2 NORTH KOREAN TACTICS 2020
https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/atp7-100-2.pdf
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – North Korean Nuclear Weapons 2024
Kim Jong Il – The Songun-based revolutionary line is a great revolutionary line of our era and an ever-victorious banner of our revolution – Talk to the Senior Officials of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (2003)
https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-jong-il/works/The-Songun-Based-Revolutionary-Line-Is-A-Great-Revolutionary-Line-Of-Our-Era-And-An-Ever-Victorious-Banner-Of-Our-Revolution.pdf
Featured articles or images
https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/north-koreas-new-kn19-coastal-defense-cruise-missile-more-than-meets-the-eye/
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/657089/us-air-force-f-22-raptors-arrive-at-osan-air-base/
https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-north-korea-food-trump-kim-summit-20190309-story.html
Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:05 — What Am I Talking About?
00:01:43 — The Great Unknowns
00:02:35 — History
00:07:21 — Lesson – The Songun Paradox
00:16:48 — Defining Objectives
00:27:55 — The KPA
00:47:48 — The Air Force
00:53:32 — Naval Component
00:57:31 — Nuclear Program
01:06:07 — The Russia Connection
01:09:25 — Channel Update
Content Creator – Perun
