DPRK Special Forces Units Observed at the 9.9 Parade [View all]

[soryang]

Last edited Mon Sep 10, 2018, 11:05 PM - Edit history (1)

North Korean Special Tactical Forces, decapitation strategy response? (Source Channel A News Top Ten Sep 10)

With no ICBMs on display, coverage focused on ground forces at the parade. I thought the appearance of the DPRK special forces was striking. The program speculated that the units were a response to the alleged decapitation function of South Korean or US special force units. Another mission might be infiltration south of the MDL/DMZ in wartime.

These forces, seen in the 9.9 military review yesterday had been observed in Pyongyang last year. From the top is a new bullet resistant helmet in the German style. On the helmet is a night vision device estimated to be of Russian design. The soldiers were wearing flak jackets with a digital pattern which may make forces less distinguishable from friendly South Korean forces according to a Yonhap News report. There is an improved model Bektusan automatic pistol. The soldiers in the parade were carrying the DPRK modified version of the Russian AK 74 design rifle with a shortened barrel and cylinder shaped helical high capacity magazine mounted on the stock. The helical magazine may carry 75 to 150 rounds of 5.45mm ammunition. These weapons were observed earlier in the April 2017 parade for Kim Il Sung's birthday commemoration. According to Yonhap News, the modified weapon was first observed being used by Kim Jong Un bodyguards in 2013. The complexity of the high capacity magazine can be a weakness operationally compared to the standard 30 round magazine on the original design, and the new weapon cannot carry the grenade launcher.

There are a couple of additional graphics of this outfit at the Yonhap News link from April 17, 2017:

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2017/04/17/0200000000AKR20170417063400014.HTML




New weapons carried by DPRK special forces. (Source Channel A News Top Ten Sep 10)

On the left side, soldiers carrying new model tandem warhead RPG, estimated to be able to destroy a South Korean K1 tank according to the Channel A assessment. On the right troops carrying a composite model rifle, that has a rifle plus grenade launcher capability.