DPRK Paramilitary and Reserve Forces

["Joseph S. Bermudez Jr." <jbermudez@qwest.net>]

Per the request of a fellow list member here is a very brief description of
the DPRK Paramilitary and Reserve Forces. As always, all comments,
corrections and suggestions are welcomed.

Regards,
Joe B.

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DPRK Paramilitary and Reserve Forces

The establishment of paramilitary and reserve type units within the DPRK
dates to the 1950s, although it wasn¹t until the early 1960s and the
formulation of the ³Four Military Lines² that the DPRK undertook concerted
efforts to increase the size, number and capabilities of such units. Today,
the DPRK¹s paramilitary reserves forces total approximately 7.45 million
personnel ‹ approximately 30 percent of the population between the ages of
15 and 60. This sizable force is organized into four primary components 4.14
million Workers¹-Peasants¹ Red Guard (WPRG) personnel; 1.18 million Red
Youth Guard personnel (RYG); 1.73 million Paramilitary Training Unit
personnel; and approximately .4 million People¹s Guard troops.

Paramilitary Training Unit troops can be mobilized immediately, on a unit
basis, for combat operations. The WPRG and People's Guard troops would take
longer to achieve combat readiness. A large percentage of the RYG (composed
of high school and college students) can be mobilized quickly but would
require additional training to attain combat readiness. With the exception
of the Paramilitary Training Units, the majority of the reserves would
probably be employed as rear area security units or as reinforcements or
replacements for regular KPA units rather then as new combat units.

Beginning during the 1980s, the KPA initiated a series of force improvements
to reorganize and revitalize its paramilitary and reserve forces in line
with newly developing concepts of wartime operations. The Paramilitary
Training Units received additional artillery and were restructured and
exercised to facilitate out-of-area operations in support of regular KPA
ground forces. At the MPAF-level a new command structure was created for the
wartime mission of rear area defense. Paramilitary and reserve units
assigned to this structure were reorganized and their training intensified.

The entire life of the average DPRK citizen is centered around some sort of
military service. This begins as a young adult (15 to 17) when they usually
serve in the RYG. They serve here until their conscription into the KPA (18
to 25). Those unable to serve in the KPA are typically assigned directly to
the WPRG. Upon discharge, they will be employed at a factory, enterprise, or
collective farm. Here they will serve in the Paramilitary Training Units
headquartered at their job location until the age of about 40. At that time,
most personnel are reassigned to the WPRG until the age of 60. Service in
all components of the paramilitary reserves entails varying amounts of
training each year, a portion of which is spent on active duty (i.e.,
monthly or yearly ³call-ups²). The type and quantity of this training is
established each year by the MPAF and is different for each reserve
component. 

The net result of this lifelong process is that the DPRK is one of the most
militarized nations in the world today and possesses a trained reserve
manpower pool that allows it to rapidly expand the size of its active armed
forces in times of national emergency or war. Because of the ³Four Military
Lines,² and by extension the paramilitary forces, there is little ³civilian²
society within the DPRK.

Workers¹-Peasants¹ Red Guard

The Workers¹-Peasants¹ Red Guard (a.k.a., Workers¹ and Peasants¹ Red
Militia, Worker-Peasant Red Guard, Worker and Farmer Red Guards, Red Guard
Militia) was officially established on January 14, 1959, following the
withdrawal of the Chinese People¹s Volunteers from the DPRK. Since that time
it has expanded to be the largest paramilitary force within the DPRK
consisting of an estimated 4.14 million personnel.

The WPRG has the capability, training, and equipment to execute the
following peacetime missions,

… Provision of basic military training to the population at large and to
indoctrinate it politically.
… Provision of local security for government buildings, facilities and
property.
… Render assistance to various elements of the Ministry of Public Security
in maintaining internal security and public order as needed.
… Render assistance to various elements of the KPA as needed.
… Render assistance in disaster relief and recovery.

Red Youth Guard

The Red Youth Guard (a.k.a., Young Red Guards, Youth Red Guard) was
established on September 12, 1970 as part of the general military
reorganization and the ³Four Military Lines.² The purpose in establishing
the RYG was to foster the ³arming of the whole people,² increase political
control, and to heighten esprit de corps in the military training given to
students. The RYG consists of approximately 1.18 million male and female
students aged 14­17. The missions of the RYG include:

… Enhance student military training at all levels from middle school through
college.
… To search out undesirable elements and report them to the KWP, and
… Help defend the country in wartime.

Paramilitary Training Units

The Paramilitary Training Units (a.k.a., Reserve Military Training Units,
Pacification Units, Guidance Units, Instructional Units, Instruction
Guidance Units, or Reserve Units) were first organized at major industrial
enterprises during the early 1950s and subordinated to the local Military
Mobilization Department. During the late 1960s these units were subordinated
directly to the MPAF. Since that time these units have expanded to be the
primary ready reserve force of the MPAF and are capable of being immediately
incorporated into the KPA in times of war or national emergency. The total
strength of the Paramilitary Training Units is estimated to be 1.73 million
personnel. Approximately 35-40 percent of these are organized into 36
Paramilitary Training Unit divisions.

The Paramilitary Training Units have the capability, training, and equipment
to execute the following peacetime missions,

… Maintain a trained military force of KPA veterans who can be immediately
mobilized and incorporated into the KPA.
… Provision of security for large government buildings, facilities and
property.


People¹s Guard

The People¹s Guards (a.k.a., People¹s Security Guards) consists of the
Border Security and Coastal Security Bureaus of the MPAF, and the Railway
Security Bureau and Engineer Bureaus of the Ministry of Public Security (see
Chapter 7). It is estimated that this force has a combined personnel
strength of .4 million. In times of war or national emergency elements of
the Ministry of Public Security¹s Railway Security and Engineer Bureaus will
likely be subordinated to the MPAF.