North Korea Country Handbook
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FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY NT OF E D M E T F R E A N P S E E D U N A I C T I E R D E S T A M AT E S O F NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY 3300 RUSSELL ROAD, SUITE 250 QUANTICO, VA 22134-5011 (703) 784-6126 DSN: 278-6126 MAY 1997 MCIA-2630-NK-016-97 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY This product is published under the auspices of the Department of Defense Intelligence Production Program (DoDIPP). This handbook has been produced as a joint effort of many organizations within the U.S. Department of Defense, with the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity designated as the Executive Agent for the Country Handbook Program. This product reflects the coordinated Defense Intelligence Production Community position. WARNING Although unclassified, the use of this publication is restricted to official military and U.S. government per- sonnel. Further dissemination of the information contained in this document, to include excerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited. Local reproduction is authorized. MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION SUBJECT: Country Handbook—North Korea 1. This handbook provides essential information on North Korea. It is intended to provide Marines and other U.S. military personnel with a base of information for conducting effective operations on the Korean Peninsula. By making this handbook unclassified and in a cargo-pocket size format, the handbook will fulfill the need for a “field” ready-reference publication. Local reproduction is authorized. 2. This product is in response to PR#J582-97-0002. The Information cutoff date for this handbook is 30 April 1997. 3. This handbook is one of several scheduled for publication by the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity. 4. All questions and comments on this document may be directed to the: Marine Corps Intelligence Activity MCIA 10 3300 Russell Road, Suite 250 Quantico, VA 22134-5011 Contents List of Illustrations . vii SECTION 1 — KOREAN PENINSULA GENERAL INFORMATION . 1 North Korea—Political and Economic Overview . 2 Transportation. 4 Railroads . 4 Highways . 5 Inland Waterways. 5 Pipelines. 5 Ports . 5 Airports . 5 DPRK Transportation . 7 Cultural Overview . 8 Korean Peninsula Geographic Position . 10 Borders and Neighbors . 11 East Asia—Korean Peninsula Geography . 12 Mountains . 12 Lowlands . 15 Major Rivers . 16 Yellow Sea . 17 Effects of Terrain on Military Operations . 17 iii Contents (Continued) Climate . 18 Spring Pattern (April-May) . 27 Summer Pattern (June September) . 27 Fall Pattern (October-November) . 28 Winter Pattern (December-March) . 28 Effects of Climate on Military Operations . 29 Vegetation . 30 Effects of Vegetation on Military Operations . 32 Surface Materials . 32 SECTION 2 — MILITARY FORCES OF THE DPRK . 33 General . 33 National Military Organization . 33 The North Korean Army (NKA) . 34 The North Korean Air Force (NKAF) . 36 The North Korean Navy (NKN). 38 Other Considerations . 41 Nuclear. 41 Biological. 41 Chemical . 41 Special Operations Force. 42 Summary . 42 National Military Policy . 42 Military Strategy. 44 Military Doctrine . 45 iv Contents (Continued) Operational Level of War . 47 Operational Level Offense. 47 Exploitation Forces . 50 Avenues of Approach. 51 The Second Front. 53 Operational Level Defense . 53 NKA Tactics in the Offense . 54 NKA Tactical Principles . 54 NKA Tactical Formations in the Offense . 55 NKA March Formation . 56 NKA Attack Formation . 60 NKA Tactical Frontages and Depths in the Offense . 62 NKA Tactical Maneuver . 67 Meeting Engagement. 67 Movement to Contact. 67 Deliberate Attack . 68 Pursuit . 70 Bypass . 71 Night Attack. 74 Armor Support to Offensive Operations . 75 Artillery Support to Offensive Operations. 77 Air Defense Support to Offensive Operations . 82 Engineer Support to Offensive Operations . 82 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Support to Offensive Operations . 83 Amphibious Support to Offensive Operations. 84 NKA Tactics in the Defense . 85 Defensive Frontages and Depths . 89 Positional Defense . 92 Mobile Defense . 92 Retrograde Operations. 94 v Contents (Continued) Counterattack. 96 Escape From Encirclement (Breakout) . 97 Night Defense . 97 Armor Support to Defensive Operations . 97 Artillery Support to Defensive Operations . 98 Engineer Support to Defensive Operations . 100 Air Defense Support to Defensive Operations . 100 North Korean Antilanding Operations. 101 Special Operations Force . 102 SECTION 3 — RANK INSIGNIA AND UNIFORMS . 107 SECTION 4 — ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS . 117 SECTION 5 — MEDICAL ASSESSMENT. 147 Key Judgments . 147 Disease Risks . 148 Diseases Contracted From Insects or Animals . 148 Diseases Contracted From Other People/Poor Hygiene . 149 Environmental Health Risks. 150 Water Supply . 151 Living and Sanitary Conditions . 151 Pollution. 152 Climate. 153 Hazardous Animals and Plants . 153 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Disease . 153 vi Contents (Continued) APPENDICES A. Equipment Recognition. ..