North Korea's Modern Military | Animated History
🔒Remove your personal information from the web at joindeleteme.com/HISTORIAN and use code HISTORIAN for 20% off 🙌
DeleteMe international Plans: international.joindeleteme.com/
Sign up for Armchair History TV today, use code KOREA armchairhistory.tv/
Merchandise available at armchairhistory.tv/collection...
Android App: play.google.com/store/apps/de...
IOS App: apps.apple.com/us/app/armchai...
Armchair Historian Video Game: store.steampowered.com/app/16...
Support us on Patreon: / armchairhistorian
Discord: / discord
Twitter: / armchairhist
Sources:
David Albright, “North Korean Nuclear Weapons Arsenal: New Estimates of Its Size and Configuration,” Institute for Science and International Security, April 10, 2023, isis-online.org/isis-reports/....
Barnett, D. Sean, Yvonne K. Crane, Gian Gentile, Timothy M. Bonds, Dan Madden, and Katherine Pfrommer. North Korean Conventional Artillery: A Means to Retaliate, Coerce, Deter, or Terrorize Populations. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation, 2020.
Bennett, Bruce W. “Standing up to Kim Jong-Un’s Divide-and-Conquer Strategy.” Rand Corporation, January 6, 2023. www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/....
Choi, Kang. “Predicting the Future of North Korea: Preparing for the Worst Case.” In The Kim Jong Un Regime and the Future Security Environment Surrounding the Korean Peninsula, edited by The National Institute for Defense Studies. Tokyo: The National Institute for Defense Studies, 2017.
Defense Intelligence Agency. North Korea Military Power: A Growing Regional and Global Threat. Washington, DC: US Government Publishing Office, 2021.
Kim, Youngjun. Origins of the North Korean Garrison State : The People’s Army and the Korean War. Abingdon, Oxon ; Routledge, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, 2018.
Lee, Chung Min and Kathryn Botto. Korea Net Assessment: Politicized Security and Unchanging Strategic Realities.Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2020.
Lee, Rachel Minyoung. “Pyongyang’s Strategic Calculus and Future Trajectory.” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, May 31, 2023. gjia.georgetown.edu/2023/05/3....
Madhani, Aamer. “US Says North Korea Delivered 1,000 Containers of Equipment and Munitions to Russia for Ukraine War.” AP News, October 13, 2023. apnews.com/article/north-kore....
O’Hanlon, Michael E. “America Has Military Options for North Korea-but They’re All Bad.” Brookings, January 8, 2018. www.brookings.edu/articles/am....
Snyder, Scott A. “How Kim Jong-Un Advanced North Korea’s Military in a Decade.” Council on Foreign Relations, December 17, 2021. www.cfr.org/in-brief/north-ko....
Tertitskiy, Fyodor. The North Korean Army: History, Structure, Daily Life. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Milton: Routledge, 2023.
The Military Balance. “Chapter Six: Asia.” The Military Balance 123, no. 1 (2023). 208-301.
“What’s the Status of North Korea’s Nuclear Program?” Council on Foreign Relations, June 28, 2022. www.cfr.org/backgrounder/nort....
Music:
Jay Varton - Zone
Pulsed - Deeper Insight
Pulsed - Encountered Realism
Robert Ruth - Superconscious
Jay Varton - Extruded Life
Armchair Team Credits:
docs.google.com/document/d/1s...
🔒Remove your personal information from the web at joindeleteme.com/HISTORIAN and use code HISTORIAN for 20% off 🙌 DeleteMe international Plans: international.joindeleteme.com/ Sign up for Armchair History TV today, use code KOREA armchairhistory.tv/ Merchandise available at armchairhistory.tv/collections/all Android App: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fourthwall.wla.armchairhistory IOS App: apps.apple.com/us/app/armchair-history-tv/id6471108801 Armchair Historian Video Game: store.steampowered.com/app/1679290/Fire__Maneuver/ Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/armchairhistorian Discord: discord.gg/thearmchairhistorian Twitter: twitter.com/ArmchairHist
It’d be cool to see more medieval and ancient stuff. I would love to see videos about the fall of Constantinople or siege of Vienna. Just a suggestion. Nice videos btw!
Okay
Wow
Make a vid bout ESTONIAN MODERN MILITARY
syfu stop trying to sell dumb stuff and we knew you woukd be back all that big bad talk about leaving youtube yet here you are
I love that the video is called modern military but literally most of the North Korean armed forces comprises old soviet equipment.
Yeah, the phrase "deadly threat" is doing a lot of lifting here. Looks like the worse they could do is cyberattacks and covert operations against South Korea. Even during the Korean War, when their military was modern and actually capable of winning prolonged conflict, American troops were basically farming NK and Chinese soldiers for XP.
@@Dada-rh1xsyes but those shells are old and of very very poor qaulity, most of the time they dont fire
@@Soupcup8993Most of the time they DO fire, that complete bullsh*t. 😂
@@Dada-rh1xs rust. Wet powder. Expired primer.
That’s just the information we have from the Korean War 🤷🏾♂️ they very much likely have modern Chinese and Russian equipment
The animations have gotten SO GOOD!!!
Agreed. Griffin and the team have really been improving
It's not related, but I love your username, lol
Agreed
Yep
Imagine being a North Korean MiG-15 pilot and being told you gotta take on a South Korean F-35 💀
War Thunder moment?
south korean bee*
You’re assuming the DPRK pilots would be told the truth of how fucked they are.
Those dang up-tier battles man@@mizan-mq3me
@@MaxwellAerialPhotography🤡
That was one helluva opening animation. Amazing work, glad to see your animators having fun with it!
We did!
Was essentially going to comment the same thing.
The military probably needs FOOD.
"An Army marches on its stomach." -Napoleon Bonaparte.
@@m3tactical393 "Roundworms march in my stomach" - North Korean soldier
The way North Korea's economy has been, the KPA are likely a glass cannon who will find out the hard way they can't eat expended brass and empty rocket racks.
They already have food
China can provide.
For anyone wondering the Korean name of the "Worker-Peasant Red Guard", it's "로동적위대". Literally translating to Laborer's Red Guard
That seems like a better translation to me.
It's "로농적위대" and it absolutely can be literally translated to Worker-Peasant Red Guard in English
Can you make the South Korean Modern Army.
I think there is a video about that already
@@rabbid9778 That about a Korean War.
@@thenewongoam2486 I believe where you place "." you mean to place "?"
I think there is an Army already called that, and besides i think the merch store alone is not enough to fund a national army 😔
Nice
Making that saw name ''Great Idea'' at that scene was a very GREAT IDEA 0:30
The british inventing funny lines so people can fight over theme
@@Bill-Lions-musk-dye Thats a clever move for them. I guess brits know to divide, yum and conquer countrys :D
Dude that cracked me up instantly.
from the recent parades of North Korean Military, it is clear that they got their gear from China, China must have aided them in many aspect of military matters, even though PRC and NK's relationship is not as close as many people think, NK serve as an indepth bulwark against American forces in the south i also advise caution to those who want to underestimate NK, this is a highly defendable country with shitload of mountain range and they have dig up defenses, bunkers, air field and even arnament factories inside these mountains for decades, their people are composed of millions of indoctrinated fanatics that already receive mandatory 10 year military service, making them the most militaristic country on the planet and they have nuke.
People will always underestimate their enemies, especially North Korea. It’s ridiculous
North Korea is the most shut off country in the world. It's people have no choice but to believe whatever they are forced to believe.
You are no better than those that underestimate NK because you misinform people just like them by discussing NK despite being uninformed about NK. Equipment shown at recent parades in NK are manufactured by NK because they have heavy Industries to do so with over 50 years of investment in those.
To be fair trying not to snigger at militaries which goose step is nigh on impossible
@@lukapreradovic4466 does it matter? The moment nk goes to war china will supply them with equipment.
Fun fact: the decision on where to divide Korea was reached in about 30 minutes by two US staff officers who had no knowledge of Korea (future Kennedy Secstate Dean Rusk was one of them). They were shown Seoul on a map, told “this is the capital, pick a line that makes sure we get that” and sent to work.
And the Soviets agreed to that
@@stevenbaksh5545 did no one find that suspicious?? Did people in the 20th century not question anything???
@imperson7005 korea was not really important, so no one really cared.
North Korean special forces are believed to have traveled to Syria to assist in the Assad regime in their civil war. I’m surprised you didn’t mention it.
What does North Korea gain by helping Assad?
@@stevenbaksh5545 They are protecting an ally that could help them with any disputes in the Middle East. Also, sending special forces there allows the soldiers to gain combat experience they could use in a potential conflict with the south.
@@caseclosed9342 I don't see what disputes they would have in the Middle East North Korea is a small country they can't import nor export goods so easily to countries so far away from its borders I am sure they do some business but I highly doubt it's on a large scale at least since 2011. Well the combat experience yes I can see that
North korea also help trained hezbollah .this likely included hamas.
Source?
"Metal Slug!" Is What the intro is
I sure hope this means we'll be getting a video on South Korea too! A comparison of their military uniforms would also be lit.
Well... S.Korea is pretty well covered...
The crab walking through the shadows to start the video got me crazy
It was fun to work on!
Thank you for all your content!
Now, do one on Luxembourg!
He usually likes making videos that are more than 30 seconds long
About what? Them having 6 whole rifles with 180 bullets in total?
@@khurramzafar And 4 A400M's .
@@davyman2000 They did send a mighty force of 40 soldiers to Korea
This would have to be a 7 hour series just to cover the foundation of the world's most powerful state, the rest of the topic would be weeks long
The Crab at the beginning was a great hook, I love when the animators get to have fun with the video
A video I needed that I didn’t know I needed.
very cool animations👍
holy crap this is a really well animated and well documented video im genuinely impressed
Great videos as always.
Remember Red Dawn not the 1984 Movie where the Soviets Latino Americans invaded the United States no the 2012 the one with Chris Hemsworth before Thor where it was originally going to have the Chinese invaded but MGM was afraid that China won't release it there so they change it to North Korea like an army that is more build on Defend than Attack ❤😂😂😂❤😅😅
Kinda hated when the Hollywood doesn't have the balls to do that At least the game industries weren't like that, for example; COD BO2 and BF4, but then since Xi Jinping's rise to power, they're just the same
The chinese in Battlefield 4, least in the DLC's, their trailers, were glorified, so theres that. @SiPakRubah
Wtf are you saying
He forgot to mention they were Cuban/Nicaraguan in the original 1984 version
I prefer Blue Dawn to Red Dawn. It works better on grease.
Love your channel! I wish that The History Channel hires you!
The opening of this video is probably way more accurate with the hermit crab with heavy weapons to real life than we want to believe.
Now I wish our history had giant hermit crabs people would ride like war elephants.
Armchair Historian has summoned the Armchair tankies
Interesting that you mention the MiG-15 still in service for the KPAAF but left out the IL-28, a bomber designed in the late 1940's
Loved your vids
The thing that worries me about their SF community is that yes, they are very behind in equipment, but they HAVE seen combat, (N. Korea lends them out to other dictators) and combat experience is everything on the battle field.
So has the south????
if anyone is interested, a good book on the subject of North korea'sarmed Forces is the book written by the guys at the Oryx blog, called " The Armed forces of north Korea: On the Path of Songun. it has a lot of pictures and illustrations and it is chock full of updated info
9:57 That buzz and woody illustration had me rolling 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for the history.
You should do different types of nuclear weapons in different countries
If your oldest fighter jets are older than the invention of the missile then you really need to consider modernizing.
They can't. But maybe they don't need to. Their strategy could be like Taiwan's in the case of an invasion by the PLA. "They may be superior in terms of technology and overall strength, but we'll make them pay dearly for every inch of ground they take." North Korea's been at war for 70+ years. Underestimating them would be a grave mistake.
@@affablesage9582 in fairness it’s probably not their highest priority at the moment. That would be ensuring their population has as little freedom and human rights as possible.
Even though their equipment is outdated, we can't underestimate. We made that mistake in both Vietnam and Afghanistan.
No, we signed a treaty on vietnam and dropped our forces too 10,000 north Vietnamese broke the treaty and invaded, vietnam war should that if you let bureaucrats run a war you get Vietnam and afghan, afghan is a full retreat and the biden administration telling the military to not engage and run away, again prime example why bureaucrats should not run wars.
Not the same. US didn’t lose to the Taliban and we were basically a security force for south Vietnam. North Korea only exists because of the evil empire of China.
the only person in this comment section with a brain, jesus. so many people here think that having old military tech makes you incompetent i guess. they’ve already fought us off once after we obliterated the nation with bombing.
neither military losses.
The U.S. military decimated Afghanistan. The problem was trying to occupy it for 20 years without annexing it or making any investments into stabilizing the area.
Wow, what a perfect way to blend in an ad around @2:40 😂 Sad though, it goes ay deeper than just information that you enter in online.
💯💯💯WE IN THE HOOD WITH THIS ONE💯💯💯
What
What
This is about 🇰🇵 not 🇺🇸
They may have outdated forces but the sheer number they have is the reason why they still exist.
Great video thanks
I like the fact that the showed AK's safety is firing position.
Great video very cool animations
just a royal security force. To keep people in the country, and to ensure that liberating the North is not worth it for anybody.
Yes, a defensive military, that's 95% of militaries around the world. Impirial militaries designed to constantly invade other countries are the exception, not the rule.
i see a country with nukes that hasn’t used them, that’s been under constant threat since declaring its sovereignty. the united states could never be so reserved.
@@captaincritter1898 a deffensive one. And a prison guard one. That's also an exception. No other army exists to keep people IN their own country.
@@istvansipos9940do you amerigolems just blindly listen to yoemni park?
@@istvansipos9940 It really shows what you know about the DPRK, saying that its army solely exists to keep people inside the country...
This had the slickest commercial segue.
I didn't expect a hermit crab in this video.
North Korea trying to intimidate Japan: “We have nukes, we could obliterate you easily.” Japan: “We have nuclear powered mech suits with flight capabilities. So, we’ll see about that.”
the giant rx 78 standing in the background
**LIVE MECH REACTION**
Japan does have a well developed nuclear program, and a successful rocket program. I wonder what will happen if they ever decide to combine them
Japanese mech soldiers flying in the distance to engage the NK military: HAHA LOOK AT THESE MALNOURISHED PEOPLE WITH AKMs AHAHAHA The WW2 survivor Japanese Grandma seeing a Hundred Suns: HOLY FU-
@@Keryaken133gimme a Zaku 1 with spikes knuckles
thank you for video!
the hermit crab animation was really cool
I was literally thinking about searching up north korean and south Korean military comparisons
very fabulous video my sister tragically and sadly passed away but she said to me to be happy for her and not be depressed for her and this made me happy thank you griffin
China is definitely supplying them with lots of gear
China wants NK to be above the lifeline but not powerful enough to attack their neighbors and create instabilities. Russia on the other hand would have traded with NK for shells. The goal of Russia now is to create as many chaos in the world as possible to stretch thin US resources.
Soviet Era military equipment
Thats not good😊@@desertstorm272
@@NasimAhmed-yu6ucRussia is too busy sending all of it’s 1950s era tanks to Ukraine to do that
@@TremendousTristenyea dont forget about the hypersonic shovels that apparently kicking western equipment’s arses
wow, that brings back memories, lol. I was stationed in Korea with the Army. Camp Casey is in the crosshairs of all that Artillery, haha.
Nice summary
Video about Cyprus War(1974) could be nice.
@tyronic3497 Kings and Generals made a video about it but i like Armchairs animations.
i dont trust this channel to be objective about that subject. about how the CIA organized and funded the military junta in Greece, how they made them stage the coup in Cyprus, and finally how NATO doesnt care about the people of Cyprus that have half their island illegally occupied for decades, because Turkey is in NATO so the americans will never oppose them. this channel is extremely pro-USA and pro-NATO to ever say such things.
I'm surprised this video is longer than 2 minutes....
Can you do the South Korean modern military video next?
Any chance you'll do more evolutions of aircraft?
Make an Iraqi military 1980s video. Bath’ist Iraq is rarely spoke on
He did one about the Iran Iraq war
@@vh1775 yeah I know but I’m this style.
Could you do the modern Canadian military next?
Could barely call it a military at this point
@@insertsomethingfuni2617 yeah?
@@swissbeats2kyeah
Can you make a video on Napoleon or the wars? If you have then I will just check
I love that intro
The T-34s are probably just used for parades like what Russia does with its own or used for training purposes. They could also be used as decoys for bombs and missiles like what Yugoslavia did with its T34s and some of its old T-55s. Obviously a T-34/85 could get every possible upgrade and still get curb-stomped in frontline combat, but they might fare a little better in various rear echelon roles which would free up the KPA's better tanks for the front.
They can also be used in defensive structures like we saw russia do with its defensive belts in Ukraine. In this case, they would be no more than static armored turrets.
Tanks are tanks. Even if they can't match the modern MBTs, they can do harm to infantry and do long range harm, as far the optics and numbers hold, that is...
@@PrograError Outdated hardware has many problems before you even start comparing to modern. Rusted metal, failed mechanisms, no replacement parts, lost documentation.
@@PrograError Problem is the infantry have modern anti tank weapons
@@curedmeme29you dont even need the modern ones .its a t34, the old recoilless rifles would be more then enough
You should make a video talking about the current state of the Mexican army.
That would be interesting
You mean those guys that get paid off to stand there and look pretty 😍
Didn’t think a giant hermit crab would be so terrifying
Armchair history been cookin lately
Great video
If not divided korea today, imagine how strong it would be!!!
2:23 yo Elliott Smith self titled album reference!!! 🥴
The main problem is as you mentioned the artillery.Seoul is just too close to the dmz,and it can inflict terrible casualties.In other words, this is a complete stalemate and it ll remain so for a long time.
I think you're forgetting that seoul may be the south's capital but it holds no strategic value in the long run. If you're stupid enough to waste shells on civilian targets, which is a war crime by the way, while the rest of your military get taken out simultaneously you end up the loser. Remember taking a capital is a major power move but it's not that simple anymore especially because the south wouldn't just roll over after that because if you know anything about humanity you can kill my military personnel and damage my equipment and my pride but as soon as you incorporate civilians into the fold and cause massive civilian casualties you better bet you're in for the bloodiest war you have ever fought. It's a good thing that the north isn't stupid enough to try yet because I'm going to have to deal with the paperwork because by the time everything ends I'll probably be old enough to take office somewhere 😂
Nice seeing modern day topics ❤
Note: since you are reading this. Tomorrow Is ramadan and any muslim here i hope you have a good luck with fasting and for other Foreigners in here. Have a nice day.
It's not a fun fact
@@mizan-mq3me i changed it but ok
@@Thermoniter it's fine , sometime we make some mistake
I thought it was today haha. (I'm not a Muslim, but I'm gonna tell my Muslim classmate in case he forgot about it).
@@jastnosj6390 now today is ramadan
4:21 what’s that guy doing to his face that makes him so happy?
KPA mewing lmao.
Dprk rolling out grandpas tanks lmao 😭😭
North Korea is just like 1984, but in real life! Good job George Orwell for predicting the future, accuratily!
0:21: “Even hermits can have claws”. Pretty clever.
Not clever. Just shows ignorance about hermit crabs. All hermit crabs have claws. Some with one larger than the other that they use for a door (operculum).
@@cannonball666”It seems I must educate some plebeians on the biological makeup of hermit crabs” 🤓👆
Can u do a video about Portugal pls
After watching tons of videos about WWII, both Germany and Japan, although both swift and devastating in early offensive, they quickly ran into supply issues for their war machine- food, oil / fuel and general military necessities, they also had to deal with terrible leadership when determining what's needed to win battles.... it'll be history repeating itself , just like WWII !
More videos about the Korean War?
Listen to the Blowback season three podcast. It focuses exclusively on the Korean War, and the production quality is insane. They tell it from the perspective of both sides, unlike Armchair Historian who will undoubtedly vilify the North and ignore the crimes of the American occupation in the South.
@ frogholdingmachinegun377 did you not watch his Korean War video?
Arnchair Historian only uses Western sources, i wouldnt trust him on this issue
Anyone remember when the did an autopsy on one of the NK soldiers who defected and died during the journey and when they opened him up his chest cavity was literally full of parasites? That pretty much says it all.
I think you have the story mixed up, the man with more parasites than guts somehow managed to actually SURVIVE and drag himself across the DMZ, he’s actually recovering well and not only had a South Korean flag put in his room by his own request but admitted to a love of choco pies, getting a lifetime supply from the company itself
@@macgyversmacbook1861 he doesn't have anything mixed up, hes just lying
Good video and we need to do hoi4 again
Juche Buzz and Woody are next level, Self-proclaimed liberators of the world’s Toys
N. Korean Woody to Soviet Andy: So long, partner.
Ok now do modern Vietnamese army.
North Korea in 2024 has the finest army of the 1970s
It was very fun creating sounds for this video!
Can you do a video about modern armies in South East Asia like Malaysia, Indonesia or Vietnam?
The Armchair Gigachadian
Fr
Fr
Even though I am South Korean, I feel bad for the North Koreans too... But NOT for Kim Il Sung and his family.
Same, every time I see an interview with a north korean escapee, its hard to not cry for those people.
Make a video on the IDF!
In the tittle image a North Korean soldier with a South Korean Daewoo K11 Bullpup dual-barrel airburst multi-weapon
Can you make one on the Philippines please❤
How do u make anjmations this fast can you explain in one of yout videos ? 🤔
"Great idea" saw lol
Glad to have a non-bias video about KPA and North Korea, thanks Armchair :3 7:21 I can see you added their latest MBT (M-2020) but not their latest 155mm SPH. 10:00 you should take their Pongae-5/6 (equivalent with S-300/400) instead of S-125, which they didn’t have many. 10:17 recently they have 2 new Amnok-class missile corvettes - capable of launching long-range nuclear-armed cruise missiles, as long as some new VSVs, anti-sub corvettes and fast attack crafts. All of them are parts of KJU’s ambitious program to “bolstering the navy” focusing on nuclear-powered submarines and other nuclear-armed assets.
how is it non-biased if all the sources are Western?
@@apokos8871 like, he didn’t said anything nonsense like NK stuffs are trash or they are starving or sth… So, non-biased in my perspective.
@@minhmeo9506again, all the sources are Western. would you trust a criminal court process if only one side was heard? i've got a history degree, but i dont pretend to know enough about times and places for which i dont have enough sources. this guy just wants to keep producing content, because he makes money from this, he doesnt care about the correct academic process.
Oh cool the Chinese troops have the Chinese war flag
Kim Jong Un riding a giant nuke capable hermit crab with machine guns mounted to its shell is all I needed to make my day.
The delta v on the latest launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles show easily that they can hit North America most anywhere just because they went past Japan and landed they went hundreds of thousands of miles in the air and the missle has enough delta v to hit most northern west states
Being a small country with such poor economy yet threatening others is like a baby threatening his father.
20% of North Koreans were killed by the US in the Korean war
@@dandun30And how many North Koreans have been killed by the Kim family regime?
@@dragosstanciu9866probably less than your CIA funding
@@jafarafidah8813What?
@@dragosstanciu9866less
Not totally sure if the T-34 is still in service, last time one was seen in a training exercise was back in 2012 (and it could’ve been sourced in 2012 but been even older footage as it’s hard to get media out of the DPRK) where it was operated alongside motorcycles. One would think that if North Korea can supply Iraq with T-55 copies, they’d have enough production capability by now to at the very least have T-55s as their lowest quality tanks. That said, T-34 turrets are most likely still in service on gunboats as the Norks commonly use tank turrets.
Thanks
Virgin KPA vs Chad ROKA
For me, both of them are chad in their own way.
Chad KPA Vs. Plastic ROKA
The ROKA army literally shits themselves when fighting against the DPRK
@@BigBrotherTheWatcher1984 Virgin ROKA soldiers' meal (MREs and shits) vs the Chad KPA soldiers' meal (a potato and a grass)
We could just wait 200 years and we wont have to think about Korea at all. The Northern ones are starving, and killing each other for watching foreign movies, the Southern ones don't know how to reproduce. .@@jafarafidah8813