Korean Revolutionary Force

Korean Revolutionary Force emblem

Kwang Sun-Moon

Eurasian Coalition

The **Korean People's Army** (**KPA**; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선인민군; *Chosŏn inmin'gun*) constitutes the communist military forces of North Korea, later known as the Imperial Korean Federation (IKF). It constitutes the *de facto* military forces of North Korea/RGK. Under the *Songun* policy, it is the central institution of North Korean community. Kim Jong-un was its Supreme Commander and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission until his death in 2020. The KPA consists of five branches: Ground Force, the Navy, the Air Force, the Strategic Rocket Forces, and the Special Operation Force. As of 2016, with 5,889,000 paramilitary personnel, it is the largest paramilitary organization on Earth. This number serves as 25% of the North Korean population.

The KPA grew once South Korea was united with North Korea and the IKF was formed, absorbing the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) into the KPA. However, in 2021, the organization changed its name to the **Korean Revolutionary Force** (KRF).

## Service branches

### KRF Ground Force

The KRF Ground Force serves all infantry roles for the Korean People's Army. Formed in 1947, the organization outnumbered and outgunned the South Korean army on the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950. North Korean ground forces formations which fought in the Korean War included the I Corps, the IIand III Corps. The IV Corps and V Corps, VI and VII Corps were formed after the outbreak of war. Divisions included the 105th Armored Division, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 19th, and 43rd Infantry Divisions. During the Korean War, it also contained a number of independent units such as the 766th Infantry Regiment.

In 1960, there were fewer than 400,000 personnel.

### KRF Special Operations Force

The **Korean People's Army Special Operation Force** consists of specially equipped and trained elite military units trained to perform military, political, or psychological operations for North Korea. The units are active in testing the defenses of South Korea and have been detected operating in or around South Korea many times in the decades since the end of the Korean War. After the unification of Korea, the KPASOF grew exponentially when South Korea's ROKA merged with the KPASOF. The main mission of the KPASOF used to be to create a "second front" in the enemy's rear area, and to conduct battlefield and strategic reconnaissance. However, after the unification, the KPASOF expanded its role to include counterterrorism and sabotage operations. In 2020, it was renamed the Korean Revolutionary Special Forces (KRSF).

Within this organization is a special forces unit known as "Unit 68", named after the year 1968, when the KPA Special Operations Force was formed.

### Korean Revolutionary Naval Forces

The Korean People's Navy provides the KRSF with naval support. It was renamed the Korean Revolutionary Naval Forces (KRNF) in 2021.

### Korean Revolutionary Air Brigade

This is the aerial defense group within the KPA. In 2021, they included Russian SU-47 Berkut fighter jets in their arsenal, alongside F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles (from South Korea), the Z-10 Chinese attack helicopter, the Russian KA-60 Kasatka, and the Russian Mi-28 Havoc. In addition, by 2021, they obtained UH-60 Blackhawks (also acquired from South Korea's military). It was later renamed the Korean Revolutionary Air Bregade (KRAB).

### Artillery Guidance Bureau (Dissolved)

This was the strategic missile force of North Korea. It is equipped with Soviet, Chinese and locally developed missiles. It had ties to the space program. With the formation of the Imperial Korean Federation, the Artillery Guidance Bureau was dissolved in 2019 and replaced with the Korean Revolutionary Space Force.

### Korean Revolutionary Space Force

This is the Space Force that replaced the Artillery Guidance Bureau in 2019. Formerly known as the Korean People's Army Space Force, it was renamed the Korean Revolutionary Space Force (KRSF) in 2021.

## Weapons and equipment

Like the KPA before them, Korean Revolutionary Forces wear desert camouflaged uniforms and helmets with a beige bulletproof vests. Some wear balaclavas. In terms of weaponry, the KPA possesses variety of Chinese and Soviet sourced equipment and weaponry, as well as locally produced versions and improvements of the former nations. Soldiers are mostly armed with indigenous Kalashnikov-type rifles as the standard issue weapon. Front line troops are issued the Type 88, while the older Type 58 assault rifle and Type 68A/B have been shifted to rear echelon or home guard units. By 2021, they began to use the Chinese-made QBZ-03 rifle, the AK-74M, and even the AK-12. The Korean People's Army's overall appearances changes in the 2020s. In the early 2020s, Korean Revolutionary Force personnel were seen wearing a variety of camouflaged outfits, with biege Kevlar vests and a red handkerchiefs covering their mouths and noses. Some wore beanies. Task Force 68 operatives were seen wearing gear similar to SWAT teams in the United States. In the mid to late 2020s, members of the KPA special operations unit known as "Unit 68" were seen wearing more advanced forms of body armor. They also were issued biometric firearms; guns that were rendered useless in the hands of the enemy.

### Small arms

* Type 88: A Korean copy of the Kalashnikov AK-74
* **Type 58**: A Korean copy of the AK47 assault rifle.
* **Type 68A/B**: Korean copy of the AKM rifle.
* **QBZ-03**: Chinese-made assault rifle.

### Vehicles

* Z-10 Chimera
* KA-60 Kasatka
* SU-47 Berkut
* MiG-29
* MH-60 Blackhawk
* AH-6 Little Bird