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	40°37′48″N126°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″N125°14′45″E / 40.2347°N 125.2459°E / 40.2347; 125.2459
Kusong Machine Tool Factory	Kusong	40°03′11″N125°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″N124°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]

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, Mayang-do Island  [ ceb ] 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] 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. ^[9]

Another is additional sub systems for aircraft such as Tactical air navigation system that for example were known to be exported to Syria. ^[10]

• Ch’onjin - small factory used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force. ^[11]
• Taechon - used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force. ^[11]
• Panghyon - North Korea's primary aircraft assembly, repair and research facility established in the mid-1980s. ^{[12] [13]}
• Seventh Machine Industry Bureau: Production and purchase of war planes

Space

• National Aerospace Development Administration

• North Korea portal

References

1. 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.
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. https://user.guancha.cn/main/content?id=447082&s=fwzwyzzwzbt
10. "Flying under the radar - Syria's 'Special Purpose' Mi-17s" . Retrieved Nov 28, 2022.
11. "North Korea AF Narrative History". Aeroflight. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
12. Bermudez Jr, Joseph S. (2001). The armed forces of North Korea. London: I.B. Tauris. pp. 156–160. ISBN   1860645003.
13. "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.

External links

• North Korean Army Equipment
• North Korean Air Force Equipment