Korean People's Army Naval Force

The Krivak Frigate
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Dimensions: L 124m, W 14m Displacement : 3750t
Armament: Varies but could include anti-ship missiles, medium caliber guns, AAA and SAMs. 21” torpedo tubes are a given.
Aircraft : Helipad and hanger for one medium helicopter such as the Kamov Ka-28 Helix.

North
Korea has a single Krivak-III frigate but the circumstances and
operational readiness remain something of a mystery. It is astonishing
that it doesn’t seen to have caught the eye of military observers given
that it is clearly visible on Google Earth (coordinates: 38 43 07N, 125
23 44E).

No export of Krivak frigates from Russia or Ukraine has been reported.

One
possibility is that it was obtained from Russia for scrap, although
that too is likely to have been reported. The remaining option, that it
has been built locally is not impossible but it is somewhat unlikely.

Another
confusing aspect is its conspicuous lack of weapons or scars where
weapons and minor structures have been that might be expected of a
scrapped warship – one explanation is that after the weapons were
removed the hull was made storm-proof by patching the holes, but if that
is the case the Russians appear to have been somewhat over-thorough as
the whole foredeck appears sealed. On the other hand the mounting for
the 21” torpedo tubes amidships is clearly visible.

Even if the
ship was purchased for scrap it does not appear to being scrapped and it
remains probable that the North Koreans intend to bring the ship into
service irrespective of the backstory.

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Mothership. Stats from JCG site:

* Gross tonnage 44 ton
* total length approximately 30 meter
* width approximately 4.5 meter
* depth approximately 2.3 meter
* main engine Russian make Diesel engine output 1.000 horsepower × 4 machine * speed approximately 33 knots (presumption)
* 4 propeller 3 wing fixed pitch propellers

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Note
how fast this boat is - despite its seemingly basic outward appearance
(as a fishing vessel) the hull is actually more like a missile boats
with very shallow draught, three props and a planing profile not unlike
the Osa-I.

Firstly, two revisions based on info from Jim:

Mothership (slight changes)
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I've
illustrated the AAA but think it's a tiny bit too large and not sure
where it goes. By the way, I think it's not a Zu-23, it's a twin 14.5mm
HMG without the cowl. Japanese coastguard site also says 14.5mm. Where
was it housed?

Example Mother Ship
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Dimensions: L 30m, W 4.5m, Displacement: 44t
Speed : 33kts
Armament
: 1 x Zu-23 twin 23mm AAA (concealed). Pedestal mount for recoilless
rifle or RPGs (disguised as a winch), small arms and shoulder launched
weapons (SA-16 Igla MANPAD (SAM), RPG etc).

Outwardly appearing
as a fishing vessel, this craft can carry an infiltration boat in a rear
hanger concealed behind clamshell doors and similar in concept to a
Land Ship Dock’s (LSD) well deck.

Because the hanger is quite
small non-submersible infiltration craft which are disguised as fishing
boats (see above) must be assembled partly outside the hanger which
makes the operation prone to discovery.

North Korea must use a wide range of mother ships some with hangers, some possibly towing their infiltration craft.

This craft is remarkably fast and has a hull not unlike a typical missile boat rather than a real fishing vessel.

Umpteenth redraw of the Mother ship. I've added the AAA and recoiless rifle.
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]


The engines on the HSIC are inboards. The ones on the one on display
were Volvos IIRC. The mothership really is something. When I saw it out
of the water it seemed to me to be very optimized for high-speed. One of
the other things I recall was that it also carried a ZU-23 just off the
fantail in the deckhouse. It rolled out on rails for use and then back
inside through a set of double sliding doors. Kinda reminded me of the
old German disguised raiders from the First and Second World Wars. I
have a scan from a clipping from a Japanese magazine I'll send that
shows that ZU-23 setup, but first I have to kick my scanner back to
life. [Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]

I
don't think the ship in the photo is a mothership. The stern looks too
much like a cutaway, or more like a counterstern than what I'd expect on
a vessel with clamshell stern doors. On a mothership, I think it would
carry down to just below the waterline to allow for the clamshell doors
for the daughter boat. I've seen several shots of that vessel at that
location. The location is the Yalu River which separates the DPRK from
China. IIRC, they were taken from a Chinese tourist boat on the Chinese
side of the river. It wouldn't seem to be the right place to have a
mothership, so far from its likely operating area of South Korea and/or
Japan.

Jane's Fighting Ships mentioned eight Merchant Ships that
supposedly serve as motherships to the minisubmarines when they are
deployed. These ships are:

* Soo Gun-Ho
* Tong Gon Ae Guk Ho
* Don Hae-Ho
* Choong Seong-Ho Number One
* Choong Seong-Ho Number Two
* Choong Seong-Ho Number Three
* Hae Gum Gang-Ho, and
* Song Rim-Ho

Being
more than a little curious, I went to shipspotting. com shipsphotos and
seached. Soo Gun-Ho was there, albeit with a slightly different
spelling of Soo Geun-Ho. Close enough. But as I looked the ship over,
it just doesn't look capable of playing the role. There's no visible
evidence of a set of stern doors, and anyway I don't think anyone would
want to try to finesse a minisub over that large single screw anyway.
Beyond that, the cargo booms don't look anywhere nearly substantial
enough to take the strain of lifting a minisub out of the water. I
couldn't tell a lot about the cargo hatches, but from what I saw, it
didn't look like the hatches were large enough to fit a minisub anyway.
So perhaps that vessel is used for some other illicit purpose, or has
been in the past. It may be that Jane's is conflating the roles of
mothership and drugrunner. I would like very much to see a minisub
mothership, though.

[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Soo Gun-Ho, from Shipspotting.com

As
I looked through NK merchants on that very nice site, I found another
one the Pong Su, which had been caught in the act of running Heroin into
Australia. The poster commented that while the ship nominally belonged
to the Pong Su Shipping Company, it was actually under the control of
the KWP (North Korean Workers' Party) rather than a normal shipping
entity.

[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Pong
Su, impounded in Australia, also from Shipspotting.com Note the usual
DPRK-flag funnel marking has been removed, possibly to make the ship
less conspicuous in its illicit role.

Speaking of submarines and
their support ships, I've been struck by the almost total lack of naval
auxiliaries as I Google Earthed the NK port facilities. The only thing I
saw that made me think a ship was specifically a naval auxiliary was
this one at Chaho, on the east coast. It's the big ship alongside the
pier in the right side of the photo. Maybe that's the subtender
mentioned in both Jane's and Combat Fleets. Both those references say
the subtender is a catamaran. This doesn't look like a catamaran,
though. You can see the vessel better in closer views, I was going for
an overview of the port in this shot:

[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Chaho port and unknown auxiliary? ship

Best I can tell the subs are Romeos, can't decipher what the small ones are.



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“Stealth” SES
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Armament: 1 x main gun (57mm?), 30mm AAA
Length: 35 – 40m
Speed: 48kts

North
Korea appears to have a Fast Attack Craft with significant radar
signature reduction characteristics. That NK possesses stealth
technology is not all that surprising since they exported torpedo boats
with these features to Iran in about 2002 (Tir and Peykaap classes). But
we’ve seen no evidence substantiating that NK operates similar stealthy
torpedo boats.

The armament of this craft is not clear, except
that there is a medium caliber main gun mounted on the foredeck and a
smaller AAA turret on the aft deck. News source estimates are a 56mm gun
and a 30mm gun – I’d guess that “56mm” refers to the more conventional
57mm. There is no apparent missile launchers but these could be
incorporated into the superstructure to anti-ship missiles can’t be
ruled out. The sensor fit appears minimal but then again the radar mast
may be retractable as per other NK origin stealth and submersible boats.


The hull is very wide suggesting that it is a multi-hull or
even a hovercraft. A key Korean news source describes it as a
“hovercraft” but after careful consideration of the photo and satellite
evidence I believe it to be a surface effect ship (SES) similar in
principle to the infamous Soviet ‘Bora’ class, or for a more modern and
stealthy comparison, the Norwegian Skjold class. SES’ are generally very
fast which supports the news source’s 90km (48kts) estimate – which is
damn fast. In simple terms SES combine a catamaran hull with an air
cushion similar to a hovercraft between the hulls – consequently it is
understandable that a non-military source may describe it as a
hovercraft when translating into English. Indeed North Korea has a large
number of hovercraft which it has been producing since 1987, but in
this case the absence of a visible external propeller points away from
‘pure’ hovercraft and towards SES.

Evidentual leads:
Photo: [Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver este vínculo]
Google Earth coordinates: 39 09 36N, 127 26 44E
Korean news article appearing to relate to this type (careful re translation): [Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver este vínculo]

General description of SES: [Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver este vínculo]

Fast Attack Craft (missile)
27 x Osa-I type missile boats
- (15 x Soju Class missile boats)
- (8 x Osa-I missile boats)
- (4 x Huangfeng class missile boats)
3 x Chong-ju class missile boats
16 x Komar type missile boats
- (6 x Sohung class missile boats)
- (10 x Komar type missile boats)





Soju/Osa-I type missile boats
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Dimensions: L 43m, W 7.5m, Displacement 220t
Armament : 4 x SS-N-2 Styx anti-ship missiles, 2 x AK-230 30mm AAA (automatic, 2 x twin 25mm crewed AAA in some units as illustrated).
Speed: 34kts

The
Soviets supplied 8 boats and North Korea locally produced 15 as the
Soju class. The boats are essentially identical. Some sources, including
a popular South Korean illustration of missile boats in tunnels,
suggest that North Korea has Osa-II boats also but this is unconfirmed.



Type 021 HuangFeng class missile boats
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Dimensions: L 39m, W 7.5m, Displacement 220t
Armament : 4 x HY-2 “Silkworm” anti-ship missiles, 2 x AK-230 30mm AAA (automatic).
Speed: 35kts

Chinese
supplied variant of Osa-I design, it is not clear whether North Korea’s
boats feature the improved ‘Rice Lamp’ fire control radar (see aft
radome in illustration).

Chong Ju missile boats
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Dimensions: L 42m, W 7.2m, Displacement 205t.
Armament: 4 x SS-N-2 Styx anti-ship missiles, 2 x AK-230 30mm AAA (automatic)
Speed: 22.5kts

Outwardly
similar to the Soju/Osa-I missile boats, this design is actually a
variation on the Chong Ju type. These boats are quite slow for fast
attack craft but may retain the sonar of the other Chong Ju boats. If
the sonar is removed, maximum speed may be increased.

Only three
units were produces suggesting that it was not a huge success, or at
least not a sufficient improvement over the Soju/Osa-I to warrant
extended production.

Komar type missile boats
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Dimensions: L 27m, W 6.4m, Displacement 80t
Armament : 2 x SS-N-2 Styx anti-ship missiles, 1 x twin 25mm AAA (crewed)
Speed: 30kts

The
original Soviet missile boat design, 10 Komar boats were supplied and a
further 6 locally produced as the Sohung class. These boats are dated
and some may be inoperable.



SES ‘A’
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Dimensions : L 35m, W 12m. Displacement approx 200t
Armament : 2-8 anti-ship missiles (depending on type), 2 AAA (30mm?), 1 medium caliber dual purpose gun (57mm?).

This
craft is probably a reasonably capable missile boat of relatively
recent construction. Its layout follows typical Russian thinking with
the missile tubes beside the bridge firing forward, and a long
superstructure extending rearwards almost to the stern.

There
appears to be a medium caliber gun on the aft deck but something
smaller, probably a 30mm CIWS, at the front of the ship. This
arrangement with the ‘main’ gun at the rear is again more typical of
Russian missile boat designs than Western ones.

It’s not
credible to say with any degree of certainty what the anti-ship missiles
are based on the satellite imagery alone but they do appear not unlike
the vertically stacked SS-N-22 Moskit (NATO: ‘Sunburn’) supersonic
missiles fitted to the Russian Turantul class missile boats. My artist’s
impression shows the somewhat less alarming HY-2 type missiles. The
HY-2/Styx family of missiles have several different launch tubes
associated with them, including one that is generally similar to the
typical SS-N-22 launchers.

Evidential leads:
Google Earth coordinates: 38 42 59N, 125 23 04E
Artificial slant-view of craft as per Google Earth:
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]

SES ‘B’
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Dimensions : L 35m, W 12m Displacement approx 200t
Armament : 2-8 anti-ship missiles (depending on type), 1 x medium caliber gun (57mm?) and 1 x AAA (30mm?)

This
craft is clearly seen moored alongside the Krivak frigate. It differs
from “SES-A” by having a more squared bow, the medium caliber gun at the
front not back, and a more separated superstructure. The shadows also
suggest that it has a taller and more extensive mast(s).

The
anti-ship missiles are not fitted in the satellite imagery but the
mountings are clearly visible exactly where you’d expect them to be.
Again we can only guess at the missile fit.

Evidential leads:
Google Earth coordinates: 38 43 07N, 125 23 44E



Chong-Ju PG with MRLS (2 units):
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]

And my guess of what it looks like with the 4 Styx fitted (3 units):
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]

I don't think I'll do the Torpedo armed unit


Correction on SSM armed Chong Ju. Turns out gun fit is essentially same
as Osa-I with 2 x AK-230s. Not realy sure about exact nature of
superstructure or mast.

[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]



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Some sources may not agree with numbers and minor details but overall view is pretty consistent.

Larger warships:
1 x “Soho” class missile frigate
2 x Najin class missile frigates
4 x Sariwon class gun corvettes
2 x Tral class gun corvettes


Soho class missile frigate
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Dimensions: L 73.8m, W 15.5m, Displacement 1,845t
Armament
: 4 x SS-N-1 Styx anti-ship missiles, 1 x 100mm main gun (crewed), 2 x
AK-230 30mm AAA (automatic), 2 x twin 37mm AAA (crewed), 2 x 25mm AAA
(crewed), 4 x RBU-1200 ASW rockets
Aircraft: Landing pad only, 1 x Mil Mi-17 Haze
Speed: About 25kts (highest estimate 27kts, lowest 23kts)

Built
in 1983 in Najin, in service with the Eastern fleet, the infamous Soho
class FFG is widely reported and listed by numerous credible sources,
but few illustrations and seemingly no photos of this warship exist in
Western media. An indigenous design noteworthy for its distinctive
feature is that it employs a catamaran hull, the relative lack of
activity and no further units suggest that it was not a success.


Najin class light missile frigate
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Dimensions: L 102m, W 10m, Displacement about 1,500t
Armament
: 2 x SS-N-1 Styx anti-ship missiles, 2 x 100mm main guns (crewed), 2 x
twin 57mm AAA (crewed), 2 x AK-230 30mm AAA (automatic), 8 x twin 25mm
AAA (crewed), depth charge rails
Aircraft: none
Speed: Est 24kts

Built
in the early 1970s the Najin class is essentially the North Korean
version of the Soviet Kola class light frigate, although curiously
enough these were being built right about the time the Russian Navy was
scrapping its Kolas. Despite their dated heritage, these ships are among
the few truly ocean going warships of the North Korean fleet and have
been relatively active, used as recovery ship escorts during north
Korea’s ballistic missile test launches.

The original weapons
fit included triple 533mm (21”) ASW torpedo tubes amidships but these
were replaced by twin missile launchers and an extensively rebuilt
superstructure in the early 1980s.

By modern standards these
ship have extremely weak air defenses (despite bristling with AAA) and a
somewhat puny anti-ship armament. It is incredible that the North
Korean navy has not embraced automatic mid-caliber naval guns as has
virtually every other navy.


Sariwon class gun corvette
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Dimensions: L 62m, W 7.3m, Displacement about 500t
Armament: 1 x 85mm main gun (crewed), 1 x twin 57mm AAA (crewed), 4 x twin 37mm AAA (crewed, Some sources say twin 14.5mm).
Speed: 18kts

Basically
an improved version of the older Soviet supplied Tral class
minesweepers that are also used as gun corvettes (see below), the
Sariwon is relatively limited in the modern environment. Sources
conflict over the exact number built but at least some are active on the
east coast.


Tral class gun corvettes
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Dimensions: L 62m, W 7.3m, Displacement about 500t
Armament: 1 x 85mm main gun (crewed), 2 x twin 57mm AAA (crewed), 4 x 37mm AAA (crewed, Some sources say twin 14.5mm).
Speed: 18kts

Of
pre-WWII Soviet minesweeper design, the Tral class are essentially
obsolete and used for coastal patrol. Some sources suggest only one
remains in service.



60m Missile Corvette
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Dimensions: L 62m, W 7.3m Displacement about 500t
Armament: 2 x AK230 30mm AAA, Anti-Ship missiles (probably 2 x HY-2), crewed AAA (i.e. 14.5mm HMG).

Found
on Google Earth and not referenced elsewhere, this craft appears a
modification of the SARIWON class corvette, itself an evolution of the
pre-WWII Soviet Tral class minesweeper.

Main differences to
Sariwon are smaller gun placements with the rear one further aft. Also
the shadows reveal large missile bin shaped objects just behind the
bridge mounted relatively high up.

Evidential leads:
Google Earth coordinates: 39 19 01 E, 127 24 07 E


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Infiltration Mission

North
Korea is one of the few countries publicly proven to engage in
infiltration of spies, saboteurs and extraction of kidnapped civilians
via its naval vessels. Mostly this aspect of naval matters is overseen
by the “KWP Reconnaissance Bureau” rather than the regular navy. Primary
targets are South Korea and Japan.

Although it is hard to say how much of this goes on, several craft have been captured or sunk over the years.


Type-A Basic High-Speed infiltration craft
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Dimensions: L 11m, Displacement 3t
Speed: 50kts
Armament : Small arms and crew carried weapons, possibly including short range air-defence missiles and RPGs.

Probably
the first type of infiltration craft used, these are disguised as small
fishing boats but the upper structures are fake. Because the craft is
very short ranged it has to be carried near to its target by a mother
ship which is itself disguised as a fishing boat (see below).

The
craft is vulnerable to detection by radar and is believed to be less
commonly employed in recent years although one was captured by the
Japanese in the late 1990s after its mother ship was sunk during a
prolonged gun battle with Japanese Coast Guard.

Once the craft
is close to the enemy shore the infiltrators land by swimming, probably
aided by a small hand held underwater propulsion pack that looks like a
torpedo.



High Speed infiltration craft (diguised)
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]

Stats from japanese site:
*Gross tonnage 2.9 ton total
* length approximately 11 meter
* speed approximately 50 knots (presumption)
* propeller inboard (???outboard?[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]) outside machine 300 horsepower × 3 bases

The
site has close ups of the props and they appear almost identical to
those on SILC. In fact it's a lot like the SILCs except for the obvious
and the "fishing boat" kit.


BTW, the assault rifles found were relatively modern AK-74s not the older AK-47s. Curious.



Type-B Submersible Infiltration Landing Craft (SILC)
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Dimensions: L 9.3m, W2.54, Displacement: 5 tons (est)
Speed: 30-40 kts surfaced; 12kts semisubmerged (est)
Range: 300nm surfaced (est)
Compliment: 3 (2x crew, 3 pax)
Armament: small arms

The
first submersible infiltration craft was captured in 1983 by South
Korean forces. The boat is launched from a mother ship as per the High
Speed boat above, and approaches the coast at high speed. Close to the
shore where radar/visual detection is most likely, the boat floods a
compartment under the long foredeck and sinks to the point that the deck
is awash and only the cabin is exposed.

The passengers reach the shore by swimming.

“Type-B”
is not a North Korean designation. An improved version of the Type-B is
reported with the cabin divided into two separate structures, one over
the bridge and one over the passenger compartment. This arrangement is
apparently intended to reduce the radar cross-section during the
semi-submerged phase of the mission:
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]

Type-C (SP-10H) Submersible Infiltration Landing craft (SILC)
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Dimensions: L 9.3m, W2.54m, Displacement : 5 tons
Speed: 30-40 kts surfaced; 12kts semisubmerged
Range: 300nm surfaced
Compliment: 6 (2x crew, 4 passengers)
Armament: small arms

Captured
during an infiltration mission in South Korea, this boat is generally
the most widely reported and pictured example, but it’s generally only a
minor variation on the Type-B.

Type-D Improved-SILC
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Dimensions: L 12.8m, W2.95m, Displacement: 10.5 tons
Machinery: 3x 250 or 260 hp V8 (Johnson/OMC, etc)
Speed: 40-50kts surfaced, 4-6 kts submerged
Range: 200nm
Diving Depth: 3m snorkeling, 20 m maximum
Crew: 8 (4x crew, 1-2 escorts, 1-3 infiltrators)
Radar: Japanese made Furuno 1830
Armament: small arms

The
I-SILC is fully submersible (i.e. a submarine) but approaches the shore
at high speed on the surface like previous SILC. However, it can run
almost fully submerged 3m below the surface with only the snorkel mast
above the surface (the larger mast towards the rear of the boat). When
not in use the snorkel folds aft to reduce the silhouette and radar
signature.

In an emergency the boat can submerge completely to a
depth of 20m (some sources say 25m) to avoid detection, but when fully
submerged it cannot travel forward because it lacks electric motors.

Modular midget-submarine
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Details: unknown

Despite
its crude construction, this submarine is conceptually quite advance;
it can be dismantled and transported close to its target by larger
infiltration craft.

In simplistic terms the submarine consists
of a pressure vessel and three box-like floodable flotation tanks which
are attached to the outside of the sub. The tanks have a boat shaped bow
to assist surface running.

At least one example was captured in 1979.

SBS-2 Swimmer Delivery Vehicle
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Dimensions: L 4.8m, W 0.76m, Displacement: 0.58 tons
Power: 1 electric motor, 1 shaft
Speed: 4 knots
Range: 85nm
Depth: 5-8 meters
Crew: 2

A typical wet-submarine used by frogmen, this boat is probably intended primarily for special forces strike using limpet mines.



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Ballistic Missile Programme

Speculation
continues surrounding the true and near future capabilities of the
North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. There is no
serious doubt that North Korea is now a nuclear power, and that they
possess various forms of ballistic missiles, but the extent to which
they have been able to marry the two is still somewhat contentious.

Really really brief backstory
Most
of North Korea’s ballistic missiles are derived from the Soviet SCUD
system which they obtained from Egypt. These missiles have been improved
and ultimately resulted in crude medium/long range ballistic missiles.

Although
the SCUD family of missiles could (and has in the past) been converted
for naval launch (submarine or ship), they have relatively dangerous
fuels that make storage and launch less robust than modern ballistic
missiles.

Perhaps with this in mind North Korea has attempted to
gain more modern ballistic missile technology as demonstrated by the
1993 arrest of a team of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)
scientists recruited from the Russian Makeyev missile design bureau.

Also
North Korea has obtained elements of R-27 (SS-N-6) technology which
probably includes the solid fuels better suited to naval deployment.

Golf-II Class Ballistic Missile Submarine
[Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver esa imagen]
Dimensions: L 98m, W 8.2m, Displacement 3553t (submerged)
Max speed: 15-17kts surfaced, 12-14kts submerged.
Ballistic
Missiles: 3 x ballistic missiles, probably modified Nodong-I (related
to SCUD, Nodong-I has a maximum range of about 1,300km and theoretically
could be modified to carry a nuclear warhead)
Torpedoes: 6 x 533mm (21”) heavyweight torpedo tubes.
Crew: 83

Russia
sold 10-12 decommissioned submarines to DPRK in 1993 with deliveries in
subsequent years. The exact make-up of the delivery is open to
speculation but it was widely and consistently reported to include a
number of functional Golf-II class ballistic missile submarines.
Generally accepted figure for Golf-IIs involved in the sale is 10.

Although
Russia maintains that the submarines were to be dismantled under
Russian supervision, it was widely thought that DPRK would attempt to
bring one or more back into service, possibly by means of
cannibalization. The Golf-IIs carried SS-N-4 ballistic missiles in
Russian service.

Most observers do not believe that any of the
subs have been returned to service but the possibility remains and there
doesn’t seem to be any public domain evidence to confirm either
viewpoint.

The north Korean Nodong-I missile is related to the
SS-N-4 via the SCUD, but is about 1m longer which means that either the
missile or the hull would have to be modified to accommodate it, but
this is not all that far fetched.

Unlike modern ballistic
missile submarines the Golf-II is a diesel-electric boat which limits
its time underwater relative to other countries SSBNs but on the other
hand the technology to maintain and operate these boats is well within
DPRK’s means relative to nuclear boats. The submarine was designed for
underwater launch of the missiles, from depths of up to 50m and speeds
of up to 4kts and a firing interval of about 5minutes. Pre-launch time
was about 45minutes. Even assuming lower operational specs for
returned-to-service DPRK Golf-IIs with Nodong-I, we are still talking
about a credible is crude SSBM capability.

Evidential leads: Sale widely reported but good source: [Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver este vínculo]

North Korean Attack Submarine Fleet

Note:
Some submarines are assigned to reconnaissance and infiltration, for
details of this mission and equipment see separate section.

20+ x Type 031 (‘Romeo’) diesel-electric attack subs
4 x ‘Whiskey’ class attack/training subs (probably inactive)
20+ x ‘Yugo’ type midget subs
1 x ‘41m SSK’ diesel electric attack sub (probably inactive)
20 + x ‘Sang-O’ type midget subs
10+ x ‘P-4’ type midget subs

Type 031 (‘Romeo’) attack sub
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Dimensions: L 76m, W 6.7m, Displacement 1,700t submerged
Armament : 8 x 533mm (21’’) torpedo tubes (6 forward, 2 aft) with up to 14 heavyweight torpedoes or 28 mines

North
Korea received some of these boats from China and subsequently locally
produced some. Although they are relatively capable they are somewhat
dated and ill suited to open ocean operations. There is no evidence to
suggest upgrades.


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Armed Merchantman
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It
is widely speculated that a far more logical way to deploy a ballistic
missile is by using medium/large merchant ships as launch platforms.
North Korea operates and builds ocean going merchant ships. The missiles
could be hidden amongst transport containers.


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Sang-O has ducted prop:
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’Yugo’ type midget sub
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Dimensions: L 20m, W 2m, Displacement 90t (submerged)
Speed : 10kts surfaced, 4 kts submerged
Armament:
2 x533-mm externally-mounted torpedoes in drop gear in some variants,
possibly torpedo tubes in some and none in infiltration variants.

The
Yugo class is so named because it was built to plans supplied by
Yugoslavia in 1965. North Korea had started an indigenous
midget-submarine programme prior to that but had been somewhat
unsuccessful, with a crude submarine being captured by the South in 1965
after its crew abandoned it when it was beached on a mudflat during a
receding tide on the Han River:
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Dimensions: L 5.7m, W 1.1m, Displacement: 3t (submerged)
Speed : 7kts (surfaces), 3kts (submerged).

Although
the indigenous midget submarine appears to have been functional, it was
very small and extremely limited for infiltration purposes which
appears to be the primary peace-time operation for North Korean Navy.

The
Yugo boats however are much larger and have room for 4-6 infiltrators
and can carry torpedoes or mines for the attack role. They are
relatively short ranged though so for infiltration (or attack in
wartime) operations in the far south, off Japan or further away, they
require transportation and launch from a mother ship.

The ships
were built at Yukdaeso-ri shipyard on the west coast from the late 1960s
through to the early 1980s at which time they were superceded by the
generally more capable Sang-O type. Contrary to some sources, the North
Korean Yugo submarine was not very similar to Yugoslavian operated
midget submarines such as the impressive Velebit type.

In the early 1980s North Korea developed a much larger coastal submarine known, rather imaginatively, as the “41m boat”.
No prizes for guessing the length of this submarine. It is not clear
exactly what the boat looked like except that its sail is not unlike the
Yugo’s in profile and that it was not a “teardrop” hull. The type does
not appear to have been successful and only one is reported and it is
unlikely to still be operable.

’Sang-O’ type midget sub
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Dimensions: L 34m, W 3.8m, Displacement: 370t (submerged)
Power: 1 diesel, 1 electric motor, 1 shaft
Speed 7.2kts surfaced, 8.8kts submerged
Range: 1500nm
Max Depth: 150 meters
Crew: 15
Armament (attack sub): 4 x 533-mm torpedoes with no reloads
Armament (recce/infiltration version): None. 5 infiltrators and 6 KWP Reconnaissance Bureau Cadre as passengers

Developed
as a much improved follow-on to the Yugo type, the Sang-O is well known
because one was captured by the South during a botched infiltration
mission in September 1997. The Sang-O is much larger and longer ranged
than its predecessor.

Some boats have the torpedo tubes replaced
by a passenger space and diver swim-out door for infiltration and
sabotage missions. The 1500nm range is useful enough to allow the boats
to operate without a mother ship in most cases making them much less
susceptible to detection.

Hypothetically these subs could be
modified to carry anti-ship missiles or Shkval rocket-torpedoes but
neither capabilities are reported.

’P-4’ type midget sub
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Dimensions: L 29m, Displacement: 190t
Armament: 2 x 533mm (21’’) torpedo tubes (not fitted in infiltration version)

Another
improved midget submarine design, the P-4 is smaller than the Sang-O
but also seemingly more advanced. It features an unusual co-axle twin
propeller consisting of a large skewed propeller and a much smaller
conventional propeller; this arrangement is believed to be an attempt to
reduce the submarine’s noise signature.

An example of this type
of submarine was captured during an infiltration mission in 1998 and
subsequently put into service with the South Korean Navy emphasizing the
build quality of the boat. Interestingly the sensors of the captured
boat, including the sonar, were of Japanese origin.


Modular midget-submarine
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Details: unknown

Despite
its crude construction, this submarine is conceptually quite advance;
it can be dismantled and transported close to its target by larger
infiltration craft.

In simplistic terms the submarine consists
of a pressure vessel and three box-like floodable flotation tanks which
are attached to the outside of the sub. The tanks have a boat shaped bow
to assist surface running.

At least one example was captured in 1979.

SBS-2 Swimmer Delivery Vehicle
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Dimensions: L 4.8m, W 0.76m, Displacement: 0.58 tons
Power: 1 electric motor, 1 shaft
Speed: 4 knots
Range: 85nm
Depth: 5-8 meters
Crew: 2

A typical wet-submarine used by frogmen, this boat is probably intended primarily for special forces strike using limpet mines.


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Fast Attack Craft (Torpedo):
3 x Shershen torpedo boats
? x Sinnam torpedo boats
40+ x Sin Hung torpedo boats
12 x PT-6 torpedo boats
? x P4 torpedo boats (retired?)
1 x Chong Ju torpedo boat

Fast Attack Craft (Rocket)
62 x Chaho class
2 x Chong Ju class




Shershen class torpedo boats
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Dimensions: L 34m, W 6.8m, Displacement 160t
Armament : 4 x 533mm (21 ») heavyweight torpedoes, 2 x AK-230 twin 30mm AAA (automatic).
Speed: 42kts

Although
only three boats serve, these are probably the most capable of North
Korea’s torpedo boats (discounting suspected unknown types).

Sin Hung light torpedo boats
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Dimensions: L 18m, W 3.4m, Displacement: 25t
Armament : 2 x 450mm (17.7’’) medium weight torpedoes, 2 x twin 14.5mm AAA (crewed)
Speed: 40kts

Small
and agile but extremely dated, the Sin Hung class is probably the most
numerous North Korean torpedo boat and generally representative of the
rest.


Chaho class rocket boats
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Dimensions: L 28m, W 6.1m, Displacement 82t
Armament
: 1 x 40 tube 122mm BM-21 rocket launcher with about 80 reloads, 1 x
Zu-23 23mm AAA (crewed, bow), 1 x 14.5mm AAA (crewed, stern)
Speed: 40kts

Indigenous
design, these small fast patrol boats pack a powerful punch although
the accuracy and effectiveness of the rocket launcher is open to
question. Interestingly three Chaho were supplied to Iran but feature a
different superstructure with mast further aft, and Chinese 107mm MRLS.

Chong Ju class rocket boats
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Dimensions: L 42m, W 7.2m, Displacement 205t.
Armament:
1 x 40 round 122mm BM-21 rocket launcher with up to 8- reloads, 1 x
85mm main gun (crewed), 2 x twin 14.5mm AAA (crewed)
Speed: 22.5kts

Much
larger than the more numerous Chaho boats, this class features a sonar
although its purpose is confusing given its armament.

As with
the Chaho the sources differ as to the exact number of tubes in the MRL.
Reloads are stored in the bins at the rear of the boat.


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Gun boats
7 x Taechong-I class
5 x Taechong-II class
6 x Hainan class
3 x Chodo class
18 x SO-1 class
12 x Shanghai-II class
?? x Shantou class
++


Taechong-I gun boat
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Dimensions: L 40m, Displacement about 250t
Armament
: 1 x 85mm main gun (crewed), 1 x 57mm AAA (crewed), 1 x 25mm AAA
(crewed), 1 x 14.5mm AAA (crewed), 2 x RBU-1200 ASW rockets, depth
charges
Speed: 30kts

Slightly bigger and better than the
previous Chinese and Russian supplied gun boats (often designed as Sub
Chasers but woefully inadequate as such), the Taechong class is
representative of a large number of generally similar gun armed patrol
boats employed by North Korea.



Taechong-II gun boat
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Dimensions: L 40m, Displacement about 250t
Armament
: 1 x 85mm main gun (crewed), 1 x 57mm AAA (crewed), 2 x AK-230 twin
30mm AAA (automatic)5mm AAA (crewed), 2 x 14.5mm AAA (crewed), depth
charges
Speed: 30kts

An improved version of the Taechong with
noticeably improved air defences, the Taechong-II boats are probably the
most modern conventional gunboats now in service with the North Korean
Navy.




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zuhe escribió:Saludos:

Buen aporte josefernando.

Norcorea tiene una marina ortodoxa, pero seguro adactada a su geografía como Irán.

J0SEFERNAND0 escribió:

zuhe escribió:Saludos:

Buen aporte josefernando.

Norcorea tiene una marina ortodoxa, pero seguro adactada a su geografía como Irán.

Ortodoxa y atrasada tecnologicamente hablando, pero si le ponen corazón y ganan tiempo, podrían disponer de unas de las 10 armadas más poderosas del planeta para el 2020, toda vez que cuentan con tecnologia nuclear, y podrían disponer (en teoria) de SSBN.

Pienso que el gran secreto para los paises que no contamos con la tecnologia de Occidente, es poner todo el esmero en la tecnologia submarina. Sino... estamos fritos.

zuhe escribió:

J0SEFERNAND0 escribió:

zuhe escribió:Saludos:

Buen aporte josefernando.

Norcorea tiene una marina ortodoxa, pero seguro adactada a su geografía como Irán.

Ortodoxa y atrasada tecnologicamente hablando, pero si le ponen corazón y ganan tiempo, podrían disponer de unas de las 10 armadas más poderosas del planeta para el 2020, toda vez que cuentan con tecnologia nuclear, y podrían disponer (en teoria) de SSBN.

Pienso que el gran secreto para los paises que no contamos con la tecnologia de Occidente, es poner todo el esmero en la tecnologia submarina. Sino... estamos fritos.

Si es atrazada no estoy seguro ya que eso forma parte del discurso de occidente, en mi opinión su enfasis en los submarinos, semisumergible, y buques furtivos, es muy acertado, además que han desarrollado sus propios sistemas misilisticos tanto de larga distancia, como mediano alcance.

Comandante de Flota Oriental de Corea del Norte inicia visita oficial a Rusia

10:50 20/10/2011
Vladivostok (Rusia), 20 de octubre, RIA Novosti.

El comandante de la Flota Oriental norcoreana, contralmirante Kim Myong-sik, inició hoy una visita oficial a Rusia, informó un portavoz de la Flota rusa del Pacífico.

“El programa de su estancia, que se prolongará del 20 al 27 de octubre, incluye un encuentro con el contralmirante Serguei Avakiánts, jefe en funciones de la Flota del Pacífico, así como visitas al navío antisubmarino “Almirante Tributs”, el sumergible diesel “Varshavianka” y el cuartel de una brigada de infantería marina”, precisó el portavoz.

La delegación norcoreana se desplazará también a la península de Kamchatka para reunirse con los altos mandos militares del noreste de Rusia y conocer las infraestructuras sociales de las guarniciones de Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski y Viliuchinsk.

El comandante del Distrito Militar ruso Este, almirante Konstantín Sidenko, visitó Corea del Norte a finales de agosto pasado y debatió con la cúpula militar norcoreana los temas de cooperación militar y naval, en particular, las fechas y el reglamento de ejercicios conjuntos de carácter humanitario, el intercambio de visitas amistosas entre los buques de ambas Armadas y la posibilidad de organizar un simulacro conjunto para la búsqueda y el rescate de náufragos en alta mar.


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Corea del Norte construye base naval


9.02.2012, 13:19
Foto: EPA

Corea del Norte concluyó la construcción de la base naval para lanchas aerodeslizadores. La nueva base da cabida a sesenta-setenta lanchas, según informó hoy, 9 de febrero, una fuente del Gobierno surcoreano.

“Al analizar las fotos recibidas mediante el satélite, llegamos a la conclusión de que Corea del Norte había creado una base para aerodeslizadores en la región de Koampho en la provincia Hwanghae-do, notó la fuente.

Está región es adyacente al lado norte de la línea de separación que sirve de frontera marítima formal entre el Norte y el Sur en el Mar Amarillo. En 1999, 2002 y 2009 en esta zona tuvieron lugar violentos enfrentamientos entre lanchas de patrulla provocando víctimas mortales y pérdidas de maquinaria de guerra en ambas partes.


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Corea del Norte amenaza con ahogar en el mar a todos los enemigos del pueblo

6.04.2012, 13:51


El líder norcoreano Kim Jong-un emitió un nuevo decreto sobre cómo tratar con los enemigos del pueblo coreano. El líder más joven en la historia de los jefes de estado de Corea del Norte ordenó "enviar de alimento a los peces" a todos los malhechores, según el Korea Times.

Estas medidas aterradoras son introducidas por las autoridades de Corea del Norte en relación con los planes del lanzamiento del primer satélite. EEUU, Japón, Rusia y el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU están en contra de esta medida de Corea del Norte.

Sin embargo, Kim Jong-un no va a desviarse de su plan. El ordenó emplazar tropas adicionales en una pequeña isla en la costa este del país para construir "un muro de hierro", llamado a para proteger a Corea del Norte de cualquier interferencia externa. Por su parte, Corea del Sur y EEUU se preparan para ejercicios conjuntos en el caso de que la situación en Corea del Norte se ponga fuera de control.

Specification
Dimensions: L 73.8m, W 15.5m, Displacement 1,845t

Armament : 4 x SS-N-2 Styx anti-ship missiles, 1 x 100mm main gun (crewed), 2 x AK-230 30mm AAA (automatic), 2 x twin 37mm AAA (crewed), 2 x 25mm AAA (crewed), 4 x RBU-1200 ASW rockets
Aircraft: Landing pad only, 1 x Mil Mi-17 Haze
Speed: About 25kts (highest estimate 27kts, lowest 23kts)

zuhe escribió:Un modelo así para Cuba seria muy conveniente.