NORTH KOREAN EXERCISE ACTIVITY: BEFORE AND SINCE 1980

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00495R001001010024-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: October 1, 1984
• Content Type: REPORT

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1.
SECRET
DEFENSE
INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY
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F,14.
olu 7A
North Korean
Exercise Activity:
Before and Since 1980 (U)
OCTOBER 1984
COPY NO. 22 9
NOFORN
NOCONTRACT
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THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS
SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE MATERIAL
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Dissemination Control Markings
NOFORN Not Releasable to
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Dissemination and Extraction
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or Contractor/Consultants
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REL
This information has
been Authorized for
Release to ...
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W SECRET SPOKE 11.
\*)
Classified By: Multiple Sources
Declassify on: OADR
North Korean Exercise Activity:
Before and Since 1980 (U)
Information Cutoff Date: 12 September 1984
Not Releasable to Contractors/Consultants
This is a Department Of Defense Intelligence Document
prepared by the Eastern Division,
Directorate for Research,
Defense Intelligence Agency
Product Manager:
Korea Branch
Military Capabilities Section
NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS
SECRET SPOKE
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PREFACE
demonstrated a distinct change in activity since 1980.
(S/RELROK) The North Korean People's Army trains, exerrisen haw.
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then concludes with an assessment 25X1
of the current status of North Korean military training exercises.
(U) The product manager would like to acknowledge the extensive support
and inputs by the following analysts:
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(U) This document contains both Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
and collateral information. Individual portions are marked to indicate
specifically individual classifications and control markings applicable to
their content, including WNINTEL when appropriate for collateral-level
portions.
(U) Each classified title and heading in this report has been properly
marked; all those unmarked are unclassified.
(U) Questions and comments concerning this publication should be referred
in writing to the Defense Intelligence Agency (ATTN: DB-2), Washington, D.C.
20301-6111. Requests for additional copies should be forwarded through
command approval channels, as appropriate, to DIA (ATTN: RTS-2A), using DD
Form 1142, Interagency Document Request, in accordance with DIA Manual 59-3,
DIA Reference Library.
III
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CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY vii
1. BACKGROUND 1
2. 1 25X1
3. 2
4. CONCLUSIONS 4
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I.
SUMMARY
Nationwide
exercises have not occurred since December 1983, but they are likely to resume
after the ongoing ground force reor anization and redeployment has been
completed, probably during the winter of
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W SECRET SPOKE
1. BACKGROUND
(S/RELROK) The regular North Korean military forces are known collectively
as the North Korean People's Army (NKPA). The NKPA is the fourth largest
Communist armed force and the sixth largest armed force in the world. The
NKPA's army, navy, and air force components have equal status. The North
Korean Army (NKA), is the largest of the country's three Services and comprises
about 90 percent of the
personnel). Currently, it is composed of at least 12 corps: 8 with geographic
responsibilities, 3 with functional responsibilities, and 1 that controls
selected special purpose units nationwide. Its mission is to maintain the
territorial integrity of the country and assist in internal security, civic
action, and agricultural programs. Most important is the NKA's role of
providing
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'North Korean military training exercises have
traditionally focused on developing and maintainin NKA combat readiness. The 25X1
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scope of training, however,
2. NORTH KOREA TRAINING EXERCISES (1960-79)
(S/RELROK)
regional and progressed in a relatively predictable manner toward
more complex, larger exercises throughout the training year. Usually from late
spring through the summer, the ground forces engaged in small-unit combat
training while air regiments emphasized basic flight proficiency. Most naval
units were involved with routine sea and coastal patrolling operations as well
as low intensity gunnery and air defense tactics.
(S/RELROK) From autumn through early winter, training and maneuvers
gradually increased in tempo with army units conducting combined-arms exercises
at regional training areas. For the most part, unit sizes were limited to
battalions of infantry, armor, or artillery. On occasion, elements of a
regiment or brigade were observed in the field. Air and naval forces as well
as air and army units, were reportedly on maneuvers in contiguous areas and
possibly engaged in coordinated exercises. From mid-winter through early
spring, all Services of the NKPA were invariably active, curtailing or ceasing
training only on national holidays.
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(S/RELROK) Neither the winter traini
nor those
ri
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d during
were assesse as
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nationwide exercises. The most likely reason why the North Koreans may have
decided against conducting nationwide exercises for these periods is the
current reorganization and redeployment of at least part of the NKA. Other
possible reasons include:
An attempt by Pyongyang to cool down tensions on the peninsula as a
result of adverse international publicity caused by the Rangoon bombing
incident.
-- An attempt to eliminate the shortcomings noted during the three
previous nationwide exercises.
An attempt to prevent exacerbating an already difficult national
economic situation by calling up reserves from a dwindling manpower
pool, directing limited transportion resources to support non-
productive military activities, creating additional fuel shortages, and
disrupting industrial production schedules.
a
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SECRET
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS
SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE MATERIAL
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/18: CIA-RDP87T00495R001001010024-2