How strong is the North Korean navy really?

The North Korean navy has approximately 60,000 personnel, the smallest of the country's three branches of the armed forces. The navy is only about 1/20 the size of the army and 1/2 the size of the air force.

According to National Interest, organizationally, the North Korean navy comprises a headquarters, two command fleets, 16 naval task forces, two naval sniper brigades, and several coastal defense units. This force also has training centers, logistics facilities, ports, and even controls shipbuilding facilities.

The North Korean navy currently operates between 810 and 990 ships of Soviet, Chinese, and North Korean origin.

North Korea analyst Joseph Bermudez estimates that, as of 2001, there were approximately 360 ships operating under the Western Fleet in the Yellow Sea, and 480 ships operating under the Eastern Fleet in the area opposite the Sea of ​​Japan.

Due to a lack of funding for building new ships, many old vessels are still in service today.

Most North Korean naval vessels are equipped with heavy machine guns and light cannons. Some are also fitted with grenade launchers, used to support amphibious landings. Currently, some North Korean naval vessels are still equipped with deck-launched torpedoes.

Another key component of the North Korean navy is its submarine fleet. In its 2015 report on North Korean military capabilities, the Pentagon highlighted that Pyongyang has 70 submarines of an unknown type currently in operation.

Previously, in a 2010 multinational report on the Cheonan incident involving South Korea, the North Korean navy was believed to be operating 20 Romeo-class submarines, 40 Sang-O-class coastal submarines, and 10 Yono-class mini-submarines.

A series of Sang-O-class small submarines were designed to serve naval divers in covert operations, while the rest were tasked with protecting the North Korean coast.

However, North Korea's most important submarine is the Gorae-class ballistic missile submarine. First captured by satellite in 2014, this vessel appears to be based on the Yono-class submarine design.

The naval website Covert Shores estimates that the ship weighs 1,650 tons at full load and has a crew of 70-80 people. Gorae has a ballistic missile launcher.

North Korea also maintains a small landing craft force, with approximately 100 Nampo-class amphibious vessels. The North Korean navy also possesses up to 130 Kongbang-class hovercraft. In addition to these vessels, North Korea also has a significant amount of artillery scattered across its coastal areas and in cities.

According to VNN