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 [1]
Since North Korea is one of the most closed countries in the world few - if any - uniforms are owned by collectors.
The North Korean People's Army is abbreviated KPA.
North Korean camouflage patterns
- Soviet M1944 TTsMKK tricolour disprutive pattern - used for one-piece coveralls. Perhaps used during the 1960s and 1970s.
- KPA spot pattern. Two colours on a pale green background.1970s-1980s?
- KPA 4 colour spot pattern. 1990s?
- KPA vertical stripe pattern. Current era. The vertical pattern is seen on the soldiers on the right - the other soldiers wear the leaf pattern.
- KPA leaf pattern. Current era.
- This woodland-style helmet cover has been observed in common usage, even with ceremonial troops wearing service dress uniforms. It is unknown if a complete uniform is issued in this camouflage pattern.
