North Korea

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)

The official name is Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK - 조선민주주의인민공화국 in Korean). Formed in 1948 when the whole of Korean peninsular was divied in two parts: South Korea and North Korea (the latter supported by USSR, the former by USA). North Korea attacked South Korea in 1950 and the war raged until 1953 when it ended with an armistice - so technically the Korean War has not yet ended.

Most of the photos below showing North Korean soldiers probably comes from KCNA - the North Korean news agency

The North Korean People's Army is abbreviated KPA.

North Korean camouflage patterns

• The Soviet M1944 TTsMKK tricolour disprutive pattern was used for one-piece coveralls and issued to some North Korean units during the 1960s and 1970s.

• A "duck hunter" or spot pattern, similar to that produced by China was also worn by DPRK forces. Probably introduced in the 1980s, the pattern was still appearing in propaganda photos in the early 2000s, but had fallen into disuse by the 2010s. The design consists of two colours on a pale green background.

• A distinctive "blotch" or "amoeba" pattern of four colors in use with North Korean forces is seen below, circa 1990s. This pattern was produced in China for export, and has reached obsolescence in the modern era. It can be noted that some versions feature a different color palette, including a t-shirt version bearing colors very similar to the old Japanese Self-Defense Force design.

• A seldom-seen vertical stripe pattern is seen below, worn by soldiers on the right side of the photograph; the other soldiers wear a leaf pattern (see below). This design appears to be of Chinese origin, the same pattern as reputedly issued to Armed Police units during the 1980s and 1990s.

• A leaf camouflage design, dating to the current era is seen here.

• This woodland-style camouflage has been observed in common usage with North Korean forces, even as helmet covers on ceremonial troops wearing service dress uniforms.

• The mountain troops seen below are wearing a woodland-based camouflage designed for snow-covered and mountainous regions, incorporating shades of grey on a white background. This pattern would later be replaced by a pixelated design.

• A DPM camouflage design, similar to that adopted by Chinese PLA Special Forces circa 2004, has been observed in use by some North Korean Border Security units. It is theorized that the fabric may actually have been sourced in China, as this is one of the few countries that continued to have a healthy trade relationship with the DPRK.

• Photographic evidence suggests the pattern below was introduced in 2017, in use with both conventional troops and special operations forces. The design is inspired by woodland pattern, incorporating black, brown and blue-grey shapes on a light grey background.

• Also introduced in 2017, tactical vest covers in a pixelated camouflage design of uncertain origins. There is no evidence that other uniform items have been issued in this design.

• First appearing to western news sources in 2017, a desert/arid camouflage pattern incorporating brown and tan-colored patches on a sand-colored background is now being fielded.

• First observed in 2018, the pattern below is being worn by some North Korean security personnel operating in and around the Joint Security Area (Panmunjeom - 판문점). Similar to the arid pattern previously documented in use by the Armed Forces, in some photographs this pattern appears to have a more yellowish tint, while in others it appears more grey.

• During the parade on 10 October 2020 a range of at least 5 new pixelated camouflage patterns were shown for the first time. Even though it was difficult to tell the patterns apart from each other, two different green based designs, an arid camouflage design, blue camouflage design, and a two-color pixelated camouflage pattern for mountain and winter warfare were all observed.

• The use of Multicam pattern uniforms by North Korean military personnel was first documented in 2020 during the parade of October 10, although uniforms in this design may well have appeared in the armed forces inventory much earlier. Several color variations, based on the drawings found in the original design, would later appear in various specialized units as well.

• Another pattern observed during the 10 October 2020 parade was a two-color pattern which appears to be utilized by NBC troops.

• Possibly created as far back as 2016, the Missile General Bureau oversees development, planning, production, logistics, and defense procurement of materials for ballistic and strategic missile programs. This agency was formally unveiled in February, 2023, and appeared in various public displays (including a military parade) wearing a Chinese-made copy of the A-TACS AU camouflage pattern.

• This two-color design, possibly for snow or desert deployments, appeared in an August 2023 parade. A close inspection suggests it is based on the shapes found in Multicam clones.

• These additional, brightly colored Multicam-based designs, were both also first observed in 2023, and are likely restricted to specialist units such as the Korean People's Army Special Operations Force. The two versions are distinguished by a primarily blue or lavender color base, neither of which is likely to have much pragmatic effect as a camouflage design.

• Another pixelated camouflage pattern has appeared in the August 2023 military parade. Whether this design was related to the previous range of designs from 2020 is unclear.