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
| 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 | | Jonchon 2.8 Machinery Factory |
|---|
| Pyorha-ri Armament Factory | Songgan | | |
|---|
| No. 301 Factory | Suwon-ri, Taegwan | | |
|---|
| Kusong Machine Tool Factory | Kusong | 40.053°N 125.2018°W | |
|---|
| 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 | | |
|---|
| Hamhung Chemical Materials Research Center | Hamhung | | |
|---|
| Sariwon Weapons Factory | Sariwon | | |
|---|
| Sinuiju Measuring Instrument Factory | Sinuiju | 40.0693°N 124.4391°W | |
|---|
| No. 81 Factory | Songgan | | Songgan Steel Mill |
|---|
| March 16 Factory | Pyongsong | | Pyongnam Machine Factory |
|---|
| References: [2] [3] |
|---|
|
Tanks, arms, and missiles
- First Machine Industry Bureau - supplier of machine guns, likely Type 62 Light Machine Gun and Type 73 Light Machine Gun[4]
- Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory - Sinhung South Hamgyong Province[5]
- 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[6]
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.[7]
- 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.[8]
Another is additional sub systems for aircraft such as Tactical air navigation system that for example were known to be exported to Syria.[9]
- Ch’onjin - small factory used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force.[10]
- Taechon - used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force.[10]
- Panghyon - North Korea's primary aircraft assembly, repair and research facility established in the mid-1980s.[11] [12]
- Seventh Machine Industry Bureau: Production and purchase of war planes
Space
Bibliography
- Book: Bermudez Jr., Joseph S. . The Armed Forces of North Korea . I.B. Tauris . 2001 . 1-86064-486-4 .
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: John Pike . Korean People's Army - Equipment Introduction . Globalsecurity.org . 2017-04-12.
- Web site: North Korean Munitions Factories: The Other Side of Arms Transfers to Russia add in North Korea Defense Industry. 2024-06-24. 2024-08-12. 38 North.
- Web site: North Korea expands factories making anti-tank missiles Russia reportedly wants. Zwirko. Colin. NK News. 2024-07-26. 2024-09-09.
- Bermudez Jr., p. 50.
- 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.
- Web site: Air Force. Fas.org. 2017-04-12.
- Web site: Cook. Damen. North Korea's Most Important Submarine Base. The Diplomat. 18 October 2017.
- Web site: 북한의 무인기 MM-1. 유용원의. 군사세계. 유용원의 군사세계. Nov 28, 2022.
- Web site: Flying under the radar - Syria's 'Special Purpose' Mi-17s. Nov 28, 2022.
- Web site: North Korea AF Narrative History. Aeroflight. 19 October 2017.
- Book: Bermudez Jr. Joseph S.. The armed forces of North Korea. 2001. I.B. Tauris. London. 1860645003. 156–160.
- 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.
