Thousands of tanks, artillery and military capabilities of the DPRK: what weapons can get Russia

Defense Express analysts note that it is difficult to talk about the actual technical condition of the North Korean weapons because of the country's closure. It is known that Pyongyang has 545 combat aircraft, but relatively modern of them are only 18 mines-29 and 34 Su-25K attack aircraft. On Wednesday, June 26, Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said that the United States would monitor the possible departure of North Korea troops to participate in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia.

He is convinced that such troops will become "cannon meat". This issue is especially relevant in connection with the possible expansion of military and technical cooperation between the DPRK and the Russian Federation after Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Kim Jong-in. The potential of the North Korean Army and its weapons was analyzed by Defense Express experts. North Korea is known to be a closed state. Analysts took into account the data of The Military Balance 2023.

According to the reference, the total number of North Korean army at the beginning of 2023 was 1. 28 million personnel servicemen and 0. 6 million reservists. 1. 1 million - land troops. 5. 7 million - paramilitary groups of Chuchhe regime. The DPRK's Land Troops include: there are also 88,000 military commands command. The North Korean Army has about 3500 major combat tanks of different types, including T-34, T-54, T-55, T-62, Type-59, Chonma, Pokoong and Songun.

Light tanks PT-76-560 units, armored personnel carriers BTR-50, BTR-40, BTR-152, BTR-60, Type-531 (Type-63), VTT-323 and M-2010-2500 units, as well as 32 units BTR-80. Artillery consists of 21. 6 thousand units, of which towed and self -propelled artsystems - 8. 6 thousand, jet systems - 5. 5 thousand, mortars - 7. 5 thousand.

The army has air defense facilities, including MSRCs and anti-aircraft missile complexes "Ila", "Strel-2", "Strel-10", as well as more than 11 thousand units of low-caliber anti-aircraft artillery, such as ZU-23-2 and C-60. According to The Military Balance 2023, North Korea has 545 combat aircraft, but there are relatively 18 mines and 34 Su-25k ribbons relatively modern. They received them in the 1980s from the USSR.

The rest of the aircraft are outdated mint-23, mint-21, mint-17 and mint-19 whose technical condition is unknown. The DPRK helicopter includes 139 Mi-2, 48 Mi-4, 15 Mi-8, four we-26, as well as 80 Hughes 500D/E, some of which are armed. North Korea has a shortage of modern and long -range air defense. According to The Military Balance 2023, the DPRK has 10 C-200, approximately 170 C-75 and 20 C-125 SPRs.

According to Defense Express, this indicates the possibility of Pyongyang's request to Moscow with a request for the supply of modern air defense equipment in exchange for weapons help. Recall that on June 19, Russia and North Korea signed a strategic partnership agreement, which provides for mutual obligations in the event of aggression against one of the participating countries. Focus explained what Vladimir Putin's visit to the DPRK means and what goals the Russian president actually pursues.