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The secret mission of the North Korean People's Army Special Operations Forces: How do they sneak into South Korea?
The Korean People's Army Special Operations Force (KPASOF) has long exerted significant influence on the Korean Peninsula, supporting official North Korean military, political, and psychological operations. Their presence is not only a technical challenge but a key element of international security. The force's strength is estimated to be between 180,000 and 200,000, of which only about 60,000 are considered traditional special forces and the remainder are light infantry.
"The Korean People's Army Special Operations Force is considered the elite force of the Korean People's Army and is responsible for carrying out a number of important missions, including infiltrating into South Korea."
North Korea's special operations forces began to take shape in 1968, when the maritime commandos participated in the Ojin-Samcheok landing operation against South Korea, but it ended in failure. Over time, the equipment and strategies of these troops have also undergone significant changes. Especially at the 2017 "Festival of the Sun" military parade, a modern special forces unit named "Lightning Commando" was unveiled, which was considered to be a counter-attack Troops of the U.S. Navy SEALs and the South Korean Navy's Special Warfare Fleet.
Tasks and operations
The main tasks of KPASOF include breaking through South Korea's fixed defense facilities, creating a "second front" behind enemy lines, and conducting battlefield and strategic reconnaissance. The execution of these missions requires a high degree of stealth and rapid action capabilities.
Airborne combat
KPASOF typically uses Antonov An-2 transport aircraft for infiltration operations. The aircraft can carry out airdrops or land on roads, allowing combat troops to quickly enter deployment areas.
Reconnaissance Brigade
These units are often referred to as "sniper brigades" and are part of the KPA's ground intelligence forces. In addition to missions focused on direct action, they were trained to destroy strategic targets in South Korea and were suspected of carrying out assassination missions.
Light Infantry
The role of the light infantry is to quickly enter and disrupt the enemy's rear through covert operations. Such missions include seizing forward communications lines and destroying high-value targets such as nuclear weapons. Although these units lack amphibious warfare training, they are equally suited to executing rapid plans in sensitive areas.
Marine Special Operations
According to estimates, North Korea's special forces could deploy more than 7,000 personnel along the South Korean coastline. Using North Korean Navy submarines, these commanders were able to transport troops into the South Korean coast. The North Korean Navy has 24 Romeo-class submarines. These submarines mainly operate in coastal areas and are excellent platforms for projecting troops.
"The presence of small submarines allows the special operations forces of the Korean People's Army to operate quietly off the coast of South Korea."
In addition, the special design of the Sang-O class submarine is also an ideal platform for supporting coastal penetration missions. This type of small submarine can effectively hide in rugged coastlines, allowing light infantry units on the ground to quickly launch operations.
Conclusion
As geopolitics changes and tensions between North and South Korea still exist, KPASOF’s infiltration capabilities will continue to be tested and challenged. This secretive and efficient combat method is not only a source of anxiety at the military level, but also reminds all parties to pay attention to potential security threats. Where will North-South relations go in the future?
