Page 35 - 2020 Defence White Paper
P. 35

[Chart 1-5] Major Activities of the North Korean Special Operation Force                Chapter 1









               Special Operation Force   Military Parade  Island Occupation   Strike Drill for Allies’
                   Flag Raising                       Training     Strategic Facilities


               Naval Force     The Naval Force is composed of 2 fleet commands, one for the
                               East Sea and one for the West Sea, 13 naval squadrons, and 2
               maritime sniper brigades under the Naval Command.
                 With 60% of its forces positioned south of the Pyongyang-Wonsan line, the North
               Korean Naval Force possesses the capability to carry out a surprise attack anytime.
               However, its capacity for deep-sea operations is limited because its forces consist
               mainly of small, high-speed vessels.
                 Surface forces are mostly composed of around 490 small, high-speed vessels such
               as guided missile boats, torpedo boats, small patrol craft, and fire support patrol
               craft. Their mission is to support the advancement of the Ground Force in connection

               with ground operations while also carrying out coastal defense operations. More
               recently, the Naval Force has built and field deployed new medium-to large-sized
               vessels with some of them equipped with anti-ship missiles  to enhance its long-
                                                               36)
               range strike capability.
                 Underwater forces consist of some 70 Romeo-class and midget-type submarines.   36)
                                                                                     North Korea unveiled the
               They are designed to disrupt sea lanes, lay mines, attack surface vessels, and assist   missile test in the waters
                                                                                     off Wonsan on February
               special warfare units’ infiltrations. The North Korean Naval Force is continuing to   6, 2015, with an estimated
                                                                                     range of about 100km.
               build up its forces by constructing new submarines capable of launching Submarine-
                                                                                     37)
               Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) .                                 Submarine-Launched
                                            37)
                                                                                     Ballistic Missile
                 The amphibious forces are composed of more than 250 vessels including ACVs
                                                                                     38)
               and high-speed landing crafts with most of them being small-sized vessels. The   New surface-to-ship
                                                                                     missiles were unveiled
               amphibious force is expected to inf ltrate special warfare forces into our rear area using   during the 70th anniversary
               these vessels to strike major military and strategic facilities and secure key landing   of establishment of the
                                                                                     regime (September
               shores. The coastal defense forces deploy a number of coastal artillery and surface-to-  9, 2018). while at the
                                                                                     75th anniversary of
               ship missiles along the east and west coasts to conduct missions such as attacking ships   establishment of its ruling
                                                                                     party, launchers were
               approaching from the sea and defending against landing attempts. Recently, North   increased from the existing
                                                                                     4 to 8 and the transporter
               Korea has been improving its coastal defense capabilities by carrying out performance   erector launchers (TELs)
                                                                                     replaced with the newly
               upgrades of surface-to-ship missiles  and extending their range. Key vessels and   improved surface-to-ship
                                            38)
                                                                                     missiles with an estimated
               surface-to-ship missiles of the North Korean Naval Force are as shown in [Chart 1-6].   range of about 200km.



                                                          Chapter 1.  Changes and Challenges in the Security Environment
   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40