KOREA: THE MILITARY BALANCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R000401680002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: October 14, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09: CIA-RDP85T00287R000401680002-3
I I
Central Intelligence Agency
1Mash1ngon. D. C 20505
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
14 October 1983
Korea: The Military Balance P
The major military buildup that North Korea has carried out
since the early 1970s has tipped the inter-Korean military
balance in P'yongyang's favor (see table). South Korea has begun
a series of force modernization programs of its own, but we
foresee,only limited gains by South Korea until at least the late
North Korea has 1.25 times as many men in the active ground
forces as the South, and a 1.5 to 1 numerical lead in major
maneuver units.
-- It has nearly 2.5 times as many tanks, and a similar
advantage in armored personnel carriers.
-- The North has many more large tank and mechanized
units, and a larger number of high quality tanks.
-- North Korea's numerical lead in artillery approaches
2.5 to 1, and many of its weapons are more mobile
than those of the South and have a greater firing
The South has more large ships and better antiship missiles
than the North, but we believe the South's Navy is still too
small to defend against an enemy that has nearly four times as
many ships and craft. North Korea has 21 attack submarines, the
South has none and the North has over twice as many missile
1, -,4. -
support of President Reagan's East Asian trip.
TF~ls memoran um was prepared by the Office of East Asian Analysis
in
Duplicate of C0516990:
DIF
EA M 83/10206
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Although North Korea has over 1.5 times as many combat
aircraft, the South's high-quality fighters are more than a match
for those in the North.
-- The South has better air-to-air missiles, its
fighters can fly farther and carry heavier ordnance
loads, and its pilots are better trained.
-- South Korea's air power would be strained, however,
to fulfill all of its combat missions, which include
providing air defense against a numerically superior
enemy as well as supplying major support to ground
forces that are outnumbered and outgunned.
Because of the North's advantages in standing forces, timely
warning of a North Korean attack is critical to the South's
ability to mount a successful defense.
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Comparison of North and South Korean Forces
(selected units and equipment)
North Korea
South Korea
Army personnel 700,000
548,000
Divisions and Brigades
(Infantry and Armor)
50
28
Medium tanks
3,000
1,265
Armored personnel carriers
1,900
760
Artillery weapons
6,500
2,800
Air Force personnel 56,000
32
0000
Fighters *
585
.
` 324
Bombers/Attack Aircraft
110
30
Helicopters
Surface-to-air missiles
120
350
on launchers
260
-414
Antiaircraft guns 11,000
1,950
Naval Personnel 37,000
24,000
Destroyers/frigates 3
19
Attack submarines 21
0
Missile boats 27
11
Patrol/torpedo boats 330
60
Landing ships/craft 125
* does not include armed trainers
39
3
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