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.

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°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
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: [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]

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

References

  1. ^ a b John Pike. "Korean People's Army - Equipment Introduction". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Zwirko, Colin (2024-07-26). "North Korea expands factories making anti-tank missiles Russia reportedly wants". NK News. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  4. ^ Bermudez Jr., p. 50.
  5. ^ "Asia Times". Atimes.com. 2002-07-06. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2017-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Air Force". Fas.org. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  7. ^ Cook, Damen. "North Korea's Most Important Submarine Base". The Diplomat. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  8. ^ 군사세계, 유용원의. "북한의 무인기 MM-1". 유용원의 군사세계. Retrieved Nov 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "Flying under the radar - Syria's 'Special Purpose' Mi-17s". Retrieved Nov 28, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "North Korea AF Narrative History". Aeroflight. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  11. ^ Bermudez Jr, Joseph S. (2001). The armed forces of North Korea. London: I.B. Tauris. pp. 156–160. ISBN 1860645003.
  12. ^ "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.