Korean People's Navy
The Korean People's Army Navy (KPANF; Korean: 조선인민군 해군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍 海軍; MR: Chosŏn-inmingun Haegun; lit. Korean People's Military Navy; or the Korean People's Navy (KPN), is the naval component of the Korean People's Army, the North Korean armed forces.
| Korean People's Army Navy | |
|---|---|
| 조선인민군 해군 Chosuninmingun Haegun | |
Patch of the Korean People's Navy | |
| Founded | 5 June 1946 |
| Country | North Korea |
| Allegiance | Workers' Party of Korea |
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 60,000 active personnel |
| Part of | Korean People's Army |
| Fleet |
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| Engagements | Korean War |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Fleet Admiral Kim Myong-sik |
| Insignia | |
| Flag | Front: Back: |
| Ensign | |
| Guards Ensign | |
| Jack | |
| Korean People's Navy |
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There are some 780 vessels including 70 midget submarines (including the Yono-class submarine and Sang-O-class submarine), 20 Romeo-class submarines, and about 140 air cushioned landing craft.
The North Korean navy is considered a brown-water (or riverine) navy and operates mainly within the 50 kilometer exclusion zone. The fleet consists of east and west coast squadrons, which cannot support each other in the event of war with an adversary such as South Korea. The limited range of its vessels means that, even in peacetime, it is virtually impossible for a ship on one coast to visit the other coast.