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Korean People's Army Naval Force (2024)


Current Active Inventory: 186 Fleet Units


North Korea National Flag Graphic
The following represents an overview of the modern naval fighting capabilities of the Korean People's Army Naval Force (2024). The service currently counts 186 total units in its active naval inventory. This total includes frontline commissioned vessels but excludes smaller patrol vessels, auxiliary / survey ships, replenishment, and historical ceremonial types. The WDMMW review takes into account specific categories of warships covering attack, defense, and general support designs. Inventory numbers and related unit types are provided as-is and derived from publically-available information / sources. "On Order" totals found at the bottom of this article are related to any future hulls currently under procurement/construction though said hulls may not be delivered for service in the current year for various reasons.

Updated: 05/01/2023 | © www.WDMMW.org




Total Hulls: 186

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TvR
67.9
TrueValue Rating takes incorporates strengths/weaknesses matched against the highest-rated service ( USN (323.9).
Global Rank
14 /39
Global Rank as compared to national powers of WDMMW. 39 total naval services from 39 nations are tracked. View Current Ranks.
Force Concentration

Carriers: 0 units
Submarines: 19 units
Fleet Core: 167 units
Amphib Asslt: 0 units
Force Balance

FAIR

Fleet focuses on a portion of basic requirements though generally lacking in key areas.

Suppliers


National flag of China National flag of North Korea National flag of the Soviet Union
Hull Prefix
"KPNS"
Established
1946
(78 yrs ago)
as the "Korean People's Navy"
Median Hull Age
50.2
Years
Hull Age Visualization

Unit Age Color Key




0 to 15yrs

16 to 25yrs

26 to 30yrs

>30yrs




Submarines (19)


Hulls developed for undersea/submersible operation; nuclear-powered or conventionally-powered.

OUTLOOK
STABLE
 
10yrs
August 24 Hero
824
Sinpo-class
33yrs
Sang-O
10 Boats
Sango-class
49yrs
Yono
2 Boats
Yono-class
38yrs
Type 033
6 Boats
Type 033-class

Total Units: 19 (10%)


NOTES: Some numbers estimated due to lack of official reporting; Sinpo-class is an experimental ballistic missile submarine first identified in 2014; Sango-O build in Version I and Version II batch types; Type 033 originating from China and based in the Soviet Romeo-class submarine.




Frigates (2)


Hulls defined as dimensionally smaller than Destroyers, though larger than corvettes, having Blue Water capabilities.

OUTLOOK
STABLE
 
51yrs
Ship 1
- - -
Najin-class
48yrs
Ship 2
- - -
Najin-class

Total Units: 2 (1%)


NOTES: Najin-class light frigates are believed to be based on the Soviet Kola-class frigate.




Corvettes (7)


Hulls defined as dimensionally smaller than frigates but larger than OPVs, capable of operating independently or as part of the main fighting fleet.

OUTLOOK
STABLE
 
49yrs
Amnok
- - -
Amnok-class
11yrs
Nampo 1
- - -
Nampo-class
11yrs
Nampo 2
- - -
Nampo-class
59yrs
Sariwon 1
- - -
Sariwon-class
59yrs
Sariwon 2
- - -
Sariwon-class
57yrs
Sariwon 3
- - -
Sariwon-class
57yrs
Sariwon 4
- - -
Sariwon-class

Total Units: 7 (4%)


NOTES: Amnok-class believed to be a rebuilt Krivak-class corvette; Sariwon-class based in Soviet Fugas/Tral class minesweeper.




Mine Warfare (1)


Hulls outfitted for the purpose of mine countermeasures/countermine warfare.

OUTLOOK
STABLE
 
71yrs
T-2 Tros
- - -
Fugas-class

Total Units: 1 (1%)


NOTES: Sole example most likely held in reserve, can double as a corvette.




Offshore Patrol Vessels (157)


Hulls defined as OPVs and outfitted for the purpose of close-to-shore defense / deterrence.

OUTLOOK
STABLE
 
19yrs
Nongo
6 Boats
Nongo-class
64yrs
Soju
10 Boats
Soju-class
59yrs
Huangfeng
4 Boats
Huangfeng-class
59yrs
Komar
6 Boats
Komar-class
39yrs
Sin Hung/Ku Song
20 Boats
Sin Hung-class
34yrs
Daedong
6 Boats
Daedong-class
54yrs
T PB
10 Boats
T-class
49yrs
Mayang
6 Boats
Mayang-class
44yrs
Taechong
12 Boats
Taechong-class
56yrs
Hainan
6 Boats
Hainan-class
54yrs
Chong-Ju
6 Boats
Chong Ju-class
44yrs
SO-1
10 Boats
SO-1-class
69yrs
Shanghai II
10 Boats
Shanghai II-class
64yrs
Sinpo
9 Boats
Sinpo-class
59yrs
Chongjin
20 Boats
Chongjin-class
58yrs
Chaho
16 Boats
Chaho-class

Total Units: 157 (84%)


NOTES: Some commissioning dates and unit numbers estimated due to lack of official reporting.


Related Powers



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Republic of Korea Navy
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Japan Maritime SDF
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People's Liberation Army Navy
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