North Korean Military Capabilities & Strategy - Nukes, Numbers & (bad) Economics

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (AKA North Korea) is perhaps the strangest military power we've ever had a detailed look at on this channel from a defence economic perspective.

It's a nation of extremes - building nuclear weapons and ICBMs while requiring food aid, and fielding one of the world's largest active duty militaries with a population not that different from the likes of Australia.

With the recent signing of a partnership agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow, I thought it was finally time for a more detailed look at the DPRK and the Korean People's army.

Be aware, this is going to be a slightly weird one.

Patreon:
  / perunau  

Reading and Sourcing:

Unless otherwise noted, platform and personnel estimates are per MB2022 for consistency with other episodes.

US Defense Intelligence Agency - North Korean Military Power 2021
https://www.dia.mil/Portals/110/Docum...

Foreign Language Publishing House (North Korea), Kim Jong Il Biography
https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-...

https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-...

https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-...

https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-...

ATP 7-100.2 NORTH KOREAN TACTICS 2020
https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/atp7-...

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - North Korean Nuclear Weapons 2024
https://thebulletin.org/premium/2024-...

Kim Jong Il - The Songun-based revolutionary line is a great revolutionary line of our era and an ever-victorious banner of our revolution - Talk to the Senior Officials of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (2003)
https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-...

Featured articles or images
https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/north...

https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News...

https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la...

Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:05 — What Am I Talking About?
00:01:43 — The Great Unknowns
00:02:35 — History
00:07:21 — Lesson - The Songun Paradox
00:16:48 — Defining Objectives
00:27:55 — The KPA
00:47:48 — The Air Force
00:53:32 — Naval Component
00:57:31 — Nuclear Program
01:06:07 — The Russia Connection
01:09:25 — Channel Update