They've got pretty powerful artillery forces to partially ofset their weakness in airpower...lots of ballistic missiles and thousands of artillery pieces. Their long range artillery can reach even Seoul from their fortified positions on the border....it won't be easy to neutralise that threat.
I don't think Russia or even China want to escalate tensions between the 2 Korea's. They both see SK as a major business partner and now they seem to be trying to incorporate NK in various ventures as well....the North's geographic position means they can benefit as a transit country. If they play their cards right it would mean major investments in their infrastructure
George1 wrote:I wonder how North Korea will match air superiority of South Korea (they have far more modern aircraft). No aircraft acquisitions are realistic under the sanctions
Few things that comes to my mind to address this problem. 1) A-50 2) Buk-M1/2/3 3) MiG-21/J-7, total around ~140-150, upgraded to new standard with new radar, RD-33 and BVR missiles to improve its interception and fighting capability. 4) MiG-23, around 50 numbers, upgrade. 5) MiG-29, around 30 units, upgrade and increase the numbers from old stock or buy new.
It will take time to match the number of newer aircraft's that ROK have, but with a platform to give situational awareness and guide and utilise current aircrafts will be the shortest route to enhance the fighting capability of the DPR Koreas AF in the shortest possible time. But Russia has to open up fully and support DPRK, it is time for Russia to open eyes wide enough to see the reality and dump all the sanctions imposed on DPRK. A strong DPRK will be a good asset for Russia, help them develop their industries and military.
I agree that in the current situation it appears unlikely they will be sold aircraft by Russia and China any time soon, but on the other hand if they don't then what aircraft are they going to fly in say 2030? It is true that parts for MiG-21/23/29/Su-25 are still relatively easy to find, and they probably got stocks of spare parts from China for the J-5/J-6/H-5 but spares and airframe resources will run out one day, not to mention chronic obsolescence. It is also true that they don't want to sell to NK now because the commercial relations with SK (and let's be honest US too, at least as far as China is concerned) brings a lot more benefits than selling to NK. But if they don't NK will get increasingly outmatched in the air so at least if they want NKs relative detterence to continue they have to give them something. Based on political factors possible choices would be trainers like K-8 and/or Yak-130/ L-15, fighters like MiG-35 and/or FC-1 and second hand late J-7 models to replace all the old MiG-15UTI/J-5/6/H-5 and MiG-21F/PFM, some helicopters etc. No long range or attack aircraft as it will be seen as "aggressive". Mind you, could well may be that it would be only China to provide anything new, perhaps China and Russia have agreed behind doors that NK is entirely in the chinese sphere of influence.
Considering though the remarkable capabilities of NK's defence industry, i.e. they do tanks and APCs, naval missiles and FACs, long range BMs and advanced SAMs like Pongae-5 (S-300 like), not to mention nukes, i wonder if they would have the capability to build their own jet trainers and light fighters. Communist Romania (which i find the closest to NK in terms of indigenous defence industry development over the years- if RSR will still exist today i am certain it's military industry would be at least as capable as that of NK) could build aircraft like IAR-93 and 99 (though with substantial external systems like engines even if under licence) and they were close to develop a supersonic fighter (IAR-S), the biggest stumbling block being the engine.
russia nd china made a big mistake by agreeing on usa decision to place un sanctions over N.Korea ! Theyshould have vetoed it . Sell hi-tech plane to N.Koreans dammit . S.Korea made a bold move though by not allowing ussa to place its thaad on s.k soil .Though muritards sent live anthrax sample to its base in s.korea and n.korea claimed muritards are planning a biological attack against them . Same case with Russia where usa has constructed a biological facality in Tbilsi , Georgia likely to create bio weapons close to both russi and north korea border .
a.koreans arent dumb like nato nations but they are still stupid though .
"A wooden boat with North Korean Army written in Hangul on it was found adrift in the Sea of Japan off Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Friday. KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA PREF. – A wooden boat with North Korean Army written in Hangul on it was found adrift in the Sea of Japan off Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Friday, informed sources said.Fishing nets were also discovered in the 12.5-meter-long, 2.8-meter-wide, engine-equipped boat, which was sinking, the sources said. The Japan Coast Guard recovered the boat. The red Hangul lettering read, “The Korean People’s Army No. 325,” the sources said.
The authorities are investigating whether the boat truly belongs to the North Korean Army and why it was adrift near Japan. In nearby waters, two other wooden boats were found capsized on Friday. The bodies of four men were discovered in one of them together with fishing nets, and six bodies were found in the other on Saturday. The Japan Coast Guard suspects the three boats sailed from North Korea."
North Korea is reportedly possesses around 35 MiG-29. However only 17 have been obtained from Soviet Union, 14 from order and 3 from assembling parts (and 3 of them have been put of service, so the total operational number doesn't exceed 14) http://spioenkop.blogspot.gr/2014/02/the-kpaf-investigated-north-koreas-mig.html
So my question is how North Korea obtain the rest around 20 MiG-29s??
George1 wrote:North Korea is reportedly possesses around 35 MiG-29. However only 17 have been obtained from Soviet Union, 14 from order and 3 from assembling parts (and 3 of them have been put of service, so the total operational number doesn't exceed 14) http://spioenkop.blogspot.gr/2014/02/the-kpaf-investigated-north-koreas-mig.html
So my question is how North Korea obtain the rest around 20 MiG-29s??
Legit sources state that NK has only 14 operational MiG29s, even the state of those 3 locally assembled is not clear, some sources say they were never actually completed but used for canibalisation to keep 9.12 frames up and running. So those stories about 35 MiG29s are most likely just wild imagination and wishes.
George1 wrote:Is this accurate? 23.8% of GDP??? Military Burden: North Korea Spends Quarter of GDP on Armed Forces
Well possibly even more, Yugoslavia had significant military spendings, probably even more than that. But in Yugoslavia it was like this, we need a bridge, but our construction companies are busy... nevermind Army will train its engineers on this bridge, and whoala, JNA building bridge with own fuel, own food, own workforce, own machines, only material is provided by the state. So thats why alot of money was going to the army, still indirectly it was coming back to "people".
"North Korea’s state media reported on Feb. 21 that the country’s leader Kim Jong-un had observed drills carried out by its Air Force.
Information from Korean Central News Agency :
Kim Jong Un, supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, inspected a flight drill of fighter pilots of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force. He called without notice various types of fighters to a highway-airfield and inspected fighter pilots’ aviation on the spot. He was greeted by General Choe Yong Ho, commander of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force, and Col. General Son Chol Ju, political commissar of a large combined unit. Taking part in the drill were Units 1017, 447 and 458 of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force.
It is very satisfied to see the pilots steering fighters at their own will and they are good at take-off and landing operation in an unfamiliar and unfavorable highway-airfield, the Supreme Commander said. He noted with high appreciation that the drill for inspection was well done under the unexpected situation and the reliable pilots of our Party are ready to make sortie if they are given orders anytime. He further said: As I have stressed whenever I see a drill of fighter pilots, the defence of the country’s territorial air is not tied to the weather and time and a modern warfare is to be conducted in the worst condition.
That is why the pilots should conduct flight drills under battle conditions with a high level of ideological consciousness and thus prepare themselves as competent combat aviators, all-round pilots who are able to creditably discharge their air combat duty in any unfavorable circumstance. Repeatedly expressing his satisfaction over the successful flight drill, he urged the fighter pilots to intensify the drill with a higher goal and make great success in rounding off the combat readiness of the air force with the Seventh Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea as an occasion.
Accompanying him were Army General Pak Yong Sik, minister of the People’s Armed Forces; Army General Ri Myong Su, chief of the KPA General Staff; Army Lieut. Gen. Rim Kwang Il, first vice-chief of the KPA General Staff and director of its General Operation Bureau; and Army Lieut. Gen. Jo Nam Jin, vice-director of the Organizational Department of the KPA General Political Bureau."
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 Reports & imagery of #NorthKorea new 300mm MRL firing reveal long range & guidance system
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 #NorthKorea 300mm MRL finally shown at Oct 2015 parade - 2xQuad tubes since compartmentalised + cab blast protection
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 Long range of #NorthKorea 300mm rocket indicated by #SouthKorea DefMin - 6 flew to 100-150km
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 'Apparent' accuracy of #NorthKorea 300mm rocket indicates the presence of (terminal) guidance system
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 Origins of #NorthKorea 300mm rocket unknown but visually similar to #China export 300mm SY300 with GPS/INS Guidance
Since the 300mm MBRL is a land force arsenal, re-posting it here
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 Reports & imagery of #NorthKorea new 300mm MRL firing reveal long range & guidance system
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 #NorthKorea 300mm MRL finally shown at Oct 2015 parade - 2xQuad tubes since compartmentalised + cab blast protection
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 Long range of #NorthKorea 300mm rocket indicated by #SouthKorea DefMin - 6 flew to 100-150km
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 'Apparent' accuracy of #NorthKorea 300mm rocket indicates the presence of (terminal) guidance system
Joseph Dempsey @JosephHDempsey Mar 4 Origins of #NorthKorea 300mm rocket unknown but visually similar to #China export 300mm SY300 with GPS/INS Guidance
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