FAS materials for KPA forces

[exsonic01]

KPA = Korean People's Army = North Korean Army
DPRK = Democratic People's Republic of Korea = North Korea
ROK = Republic of Korea = South Korea
ROKA = Republic of Korean Army = South Korean Army
PRC = People's Republic of China
PLA = People's Liberation Army = Chinese Army

Overview and intro for 1999 KPA
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/agency/army.htm

KPA offensive operations
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/agency/ ... part01.htm

KPA defensive operations
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/agency/ ... part02.htm

KPA SF operations
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/agency/ ... part03.htm

KPA equipments
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/agency/ ... part05.htm
At some point of 1990s ~ early 2000s, US and ROK intelligence thought KPA acquired T-72s from unknown source. However, since early 2010s, RoK's annual defense report indicates that KPA is very not likely to operate any T-72 tanks. If they have, it would be less than 5 units, only for research purpose.
Those data should be good enough start point for the description of KPA

Songun-ho or Songun-915 tank is first officially confirmed during 2010 parade. Pokpung-ho is first officially reported at April of 2010 by DPRK propaganda news. It seems that those tanks were operational from pre-2010. However, still those years are OOTF for Korean war mode for AB time fame that I'm considering (1980~2000 or 1985~1995)

Chonma-ho is DPRK upgraded version of T-62D, with the help from engineers from China and eastern block nations.
https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/mediawiki/ ... Tank_(MBT)
Modeling data from tradoc for Chonma-ho

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military ... nma-ho.htm
http://www.massimotessitori.altervista. ... ho456.html
More interesting observations towards Chonma-ho

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Pe ... ound_Force
KPA's tank. But existence of T-72S in KPA is questionable according to RoK annual defense report.

I think, KPA tanks for AB Korean war mod for 1980~2000 time frame would be:
T-54A & T-55A
Type 59
T-62 (need to check about variant)
Chonma-ho including variants up to 2000.
PT-85
PT-76
T-34, T-34/76, T-34/85
SU-100
SU-76
Plus, for the game balance, it might be possible to include T-72 or T-72M, but those will be non-historical element.

[exsonic01]

Additional KPA ORBAT data, pre-2000

http://www-solar.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/~aaro ... nka90.html
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/agency/kpa-orbat.htm

I Think those data should be enough to finish KPA unit list at least for 1995 ~ 2000.

While I'm considering 1980~2000, if I can't get enough data then I think it would be better to pick one year, like 1995 or 2000. Data search sometimes takes too much time and I'm already busy with map works...

[nikolas93TS]

It is hair-raising that we will need to rely on sources like FAS, but not much else is available. Even those who can be considered experts, must base themselves on interpreted propaganda and parade footage, and rare museum photos. Also, Pokpung-ho seems to refer to the Chonma-ho and Songun tank, or some variants thereof.

There are also some bits from "Oryxspioenkop" blog and twitter. Those two are authors of incoming "North Korea's Armed Forces: On the Path of Songun" book hopefully scheduled for May 2020, which is to my knowledge will probably be the most encompassing book on North Korean Army and equipment up to date. Guess I will need to spend 40$ for it.

The DPRK is known to have received the 9K111 system from the Soviet Union first in 1988, a deal which supposedly continued with the Russian Federation until 2010 and entailed the delivery of some 4500 systems. Due to the interchangeable nature of the missiles, it can’t be said for certain whether or not only the 9K111 Fagot or also the 9K111-1 Konkurs was delivered. However, there is no known Korean designation for the 9K111-1 Konkurs, and the Bulsae-3 is most likely an unrelated system.

Although MANPADS in general appear to be referred to as Hwaseong-Chong (Arquebus) in North Korea, it is thought the specific type exported to Syria is of their third or fourth indigenously developed generation. Early types copied from the Soviet 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7) MANPADS (which might have donned the designation PGLM or CSA-3A) were likely developed in the 1980s, and what appears to have been an indigenous variant of the 9K34 Strela-3 (SA-14) was spotted as early as 1992. Development has ultimately resulted in a system which has only been identified in recent years, and which seems to have been derived from the Russian 9K38 Igla (SA-18). However, the MANPADS currently seen in Syria shares the most resemblance with the older 9K310 Igla-1 (SA-16) system, but with the characteristic tricone nose mounted on the missile replaced with the more modern aerodynamic spike also seen on the 9K38 Igla (SA-18) and 9K338 Igla-S (SA-24) systems it is likely its performance has been improved.

Further imagery analysis reveals that the North Korean system spotted in Syria carries the designator HT-16PGJ (the missiles alone HG-16), and that the specific examples captured at Brigade 80 were part of a contract dated the 1st of January 2004, meaning it is unlikely the shelf-life of the thermal batteries has yet run out. It is possible reports based on Western intelligence of a 2003 delivery by an unknown supplier (said to be Belarus) concerning some 300 Igla MANPADS actually refer to a deal surrounding the North Korean system, especially since the Igla has not yet been seen in Syria.

Do you speak Korean? Are there any South Korean sources to consult?

[exsonic01]

I wish I had books like
https://www.amazon.com/Armed-Forces-Nor ... NWAAYSE7X9
or
https://www.amazon.com/North-Korean-Peo ... NWAAYSE7X9
as those are published in 2000s which is more close to target era of this modding, 1980~2000 or 1985~1995. Indeed, your recommendation looks very interesting, and I wish I can invest to it too. But unfortunately, I don't have enough time and $ to invest for this project for now. I have a kids to take care and to play with [:)] Even map modding is taking good amount of my free time after work and weekend, and my wife asked me once, if I have a plan to change my major to Geology [:'(] (after she watched I work with maps and QGIS for days) If it was before my marriage, I would have more resources and time for hobby projects, like I used to enjoy TT W40k for a while... But oh well, good old days... But of course I'm happy with my family [:D]

There are official ROKA intelligence reports and research regarding DPRK and KPA/KPN/KPAF capability and weapons and doctrines, as far as I know that would be the most closest thing to 'authentic'. But those are mostly classified to public, and most of FMs for ROKA are also classified material. When I was active I was able to approach them but that was almost 20yrs ago and I can't remember them a single bit. Regarding FAS report, I guess that would be a good enough for modding, but books like above might be great support for further confirmation. Meanwhile,
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/nkor.pdf
I found this might be the better source for 1980~2000 modding. Some of contents of above FAS links are confirmed by this handbook, so this is safe at least for now. If your purchase could confirm those, that would be great. If you really look for official,
http://www.mnd.go.kr/cop/pblictn/select ... searchWrd=
This is official website for RoK DoD, for RoK defense report which is published every 2 years. PDF and ebook available. At some point they published English version but old ones are only Korean.
https://www.dtaq.re.kr/km/doc/news.jsp
This is link for RoK Defense Agency for Tech and Quality, sometimes their magazine discuss about KPA weapons. But all written in Korean.

Regarding your comments, yes KPA is operating Fagot as the name of 'Bulsae'. It is reverse-engineered Fagot from DPRK. I also never heard KPA using Konkur. Bulsae-3 is the newest variant of Bulsae, and it is first appeared on public from DPRK propaganda news. Well, I don't have such Korean official materials.
http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=3239731
https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20160227015200014
kbs and yna is official Korean news websites. It seems Bulsae-3 is laser guided missile with longer range and also equipped with thermobaric round.

https://milidom.net/miliboard/251138
milidom is also community forum but this analysis is really good. Some pictures are showing HAMAS using Bulsae-3. I agree with this post, Bulsae-3 won't be threat to MBTs but it can kill IFVs and APCs, and it can be used to counter / deny amphibious beach invasion.

https://m.blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?b ... gle.com%2F
This is just a blog but he is also citing Onyx.

[exsonic01]

Regarding Pokpung-ho, first official confirmation was
https://youtu.be/lh5qO-ssW1Q
This parade.

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_d ... 00072.html
Short analysis from Korean news site.

Some claims Pokpung-ho is just later variant of Chonma-ho or same with Songun-ho, but as I know it, Pokpung-ho is distinctive one from others.
http://weekly.chosun.com/client/news/vi ... 2273100010
Another simple analysis from one of famous Korean news site.

https://milidom.net/maniareview/28919
This is analysis from forum on Songun-ho, I think it is very well written, and I guess the author might be active officer in ROKA or has a experience of equipment analysis. But anyway, in here also Pokpung and Songun is distinguished.

It seems DPRK tried to sell Pokpung-ho, as reported in SK news like
https://www.msn.com/ko-kr/news/politics ... ar-AAGOADV

[exsonic01]

http://www.faoa.org/resources/Documents ... actics.pdf
Author of this article is Dr. James M. Minnich, former US army analyst, he wrote this article back in 2001 when he was major. He is also author of the book: https://www.amazon.com/North-Korean-Peo ... 591145252/
His current profile = https://apcss.org/college/faculty/minnich/
Anyway, this is must-read material for KPA desciption for pre-2000 era. This article introduces typical OOB, tactics, OP for KPA for offensive and defensive operations. The contents of this article above also coincides the FAS contents I linked in original post, which means good FAS articles are also good enough to cite or can be regarded as a reference for any realism games.

I guess the current OP of KPA at 2019 now would be different, as briefly discussed in following article:
https://fas.org/irp/world/dprk/dod-2017.pdf
Chapter 3 of this article discuss about modernization effort of KPA. This brief discussion contains about ground forces, air and AA forces, and SOF of KPA.
https://archive.defense.gov/pubs/Report ... e_DPRK.pdf
This is 2012 version.

[exsonic01]

North Korea country study, also contains useful information about KPA structure.
https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publi ... tudy_1.pdf

[exsonic01]

https://apcss.org/Publications/Edited%2 ... ullets.htm
Chapter 13 of this book discuss about SIGNIT, EW, EIW capability of KPA
https://apcss.org/Publications/Edited%2 ... s/CH13.pdf
Total 63 pages so I need to read this but I guess this would be OK to consider late 1980s and 1990's KPA capability following this book.

Author of this article is Dr. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. who also wrote: https://www.amazon.com/Armed-Forces-Nor ... 860644864/
He is also a leadership in KPA joruanl: http://www.kpajournal.com/about/

His publications and works contains some interesting analysis regarding KPA.

[exsonic01]

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/7 ... GKX77Dc%3D
KPA journal article about KPAF mig-29. Very interesting article.

[exsonic01]

TRADOC Threat Tactics Report North Korea 2015 ver 1.1
https://info.publicintelligence.net/USA ... actics.pdf

TRADOC Threat Tactics Report North Korea 2018 ver 1.0
https://publicintelligence.net/us-army- ... s-tactics/

Those documents analyzed possible KPA tactics, mostly the same or slightly modified analysis from "The North Korean People's Army: Origins and Current Tactics" written by Dr. James M. Minnich, but still those reports are worth to read.