Korean People's Army Ground Force
| 조선인민군 륙군 朝鮮人民軍 陸軍 Korean People's Army Ground Force |
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|---|---|
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| Founded | August 20, 1947 |
| Country |
 North Korea |
| Allegiance |
 Kim Jong-un
|
| Type | Army |
| Size | 950,000 active |
| Part of |
 Korean People's Army
|
| Equipment | 5,500 tanks 2,200 infantry fighting vehicles 8,600 artillery pieces 4,800 multiple rocket launcher systems |
| Engagements |
Korean War Syrian Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-chief | General Ri Myong-su |
| Notable commanders |
Choi Yong-kun, Kim Chaek |
| Former flag | .svg) |
The Korean People's Army Ground Force (KPAGF; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선인민군 륙군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍 陸軍) is the main branch of the Korean People's Army responsible for land-based military operations. It is the de facto army of North Korea.
The Korean People's Army Ground Force was formed on August 20, 1947. It 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 II and 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, the KPAGF may have totaled fewer than 400,000 personnel and probably did not rise much above that figure before 1972. The force then massively expanded over the next two decades. In 1992, there were 950,000 personnel. Before this expansion of the North Korean ground forces, the South Korean Army outnumbered the KPAGF. From the 1970s on, South Korea started exceeding North Korea in terms of economics. Thus, South Korea could modernize its forces, which in turn alerted North Korea and resulted in the expansion of the North Korean armed forces. Ironically, the weaker of the two Korea's has maintained the larger armed force. The size, organization, disposition, and combat capabilities of the Ground Force give Pyongyang military, albeit technologically inferior, possible options both for limited offensive operations to assault the lower half of the peninsula or for limited defensive operations against any perceived threat from South Korea.
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Wikipedia