The Download Munkey : Tracking the Treasure Down …

A couple of recently de-classified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) handbooks on the miltary forces of China and the elusive North Korea regime. The People’s Liberation Army handbook dates back to 1984 whereas the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) book is a more recent 1997 edition. Being published over 10 years ago (nearly 25 for the PLA book), both books definitely do not reflect the current status of the armed forces of the respective nations although they still retain some value for military history enthusiasts, wargamers and the like.

In 1984, the PLA was primarily a infantry based force utilizing relatively conventional tactics and doctrine with a special emphasis on infilitration tactics based on their guerrilla roots during the Chinese Civil War. The doctrine sections of the handbook therefore reads a little like an US Army field manual. Almost every tiny bit of information on the PLA that you probably need, from tactics and strategy, weapons and equipment to unit organization and even the typical diet of the Chinese soldier is in there.

The DPRK handbook is a much more interesting read since the DPRK relies heavily on its substantial special forces of over 60,000 personnel to conduct operations behind enemy lines or even create a second front via clandestine insertions by air, sea or underground tunnels under the DMZ. Sections on doctrine are of course included, together with weapon & equipment photos, unit organization as well as a brief look at the geography of the Korean peninsula.

It’s interesting to note that the DPRK Army still counts WWII armoured vehicles like the T34/85 and SU-100 in its inventory along with a massive 170mm self-propelled gun, the M-1978 (below). While it has an impressive range of 40 km, it looks extremely vulnerable to aerial attack due to its bulk and low speed. The DPRK does have some impressive numbers of AAA guns (over 8,800) and SAMs to protect assets like this though. For more info, you might want to check out this link to an analysis of the DPRK’s anti-air defenses @ The Firearms Blog.

Both handbooks can be downloaded in PDF format at Defense Intelligence Agency (PLA – 142 pages (14.9 MB), DPRK – 429 pages (5.4 MB))

More information and PDFs on the DPRK’s military forces can also be found at nautilus.org.

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