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Mysterious Lightning Commandos: Why does North Korea's new elite force scare the U.S. military?
Against the backdrop of global geopolitical tensions, North Korea’s special operations force, the Korean People’s Army Special Operations Force (KPASOF), has attracted attention from all parties. This unit not only performs military tasks, but also involves political and psychological operations, especially against the multiple challenges faced by neighboring South Korea.
According to estimates, the number of KPASOF military personnel is between 180,000 and 200,000, of which approximately 60,000 can be considered traditional special forces.
Historical background
The history of North Korea's special forces can be traced back to 1968, when a maritime commando attempted to land at Wuzhen-Samchenke but failed. Kim Il-sung is said to have described the special operations force as "the strongest elite force of the Korean People's Army and the unique vanguard force of the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." During the Sun Festival military parade on April 15, 2017, North Korea demonstrated a newly formed special forces unit called the Lightning Commando, designed to counter threats from the U.S. Navy SEALs and the South Korean Naval Special Warfare Wing.
Weapons and Organization
KPASOF maintains a variety of advanced weapons and facilities dedicated to its various missions. First of all, its main tasks include breaking through South Korea's solid defenses, creating a "second battlefield" and conducting battlefield and strategic reconnaissance.
Airborne combat
Airborne troops typically conduct infiltrations using Antonov An-2 transport aircraft, which are capable of landing on roads or performing parachute jumps.
Reconnaissance Brigade
These are sometimes referred to as "sniper" brigades, primarily responsible for ground intelligence and equipped to conduct direct action, specifically designed to destroy or capture high-value targets. In addition, these units are also suspected of participating in assassination missions.
Light Infantry
The role of the light infantry is to quickly penetrate and interfere with enemy rear lines through covert operations. Its missions include seizing frontline communications routes and destroying high-value targets such as nuclear or chemical facilities. Although the light infantry lacks training in amphibious warfare, its functions are similar to those of the amphibious light infantry.
Marine Special Operations Force
According to estimates, North Korea could deploy more than 7,000 special operations personnel to various coasts of South Korea. The Special Forces are equipped to transport 5,000 troops in a single operation, all thanks to the support of some 102 amphibious ships. Once these special forces land, they will attempt to conduct operations behind enemy lines with the aim of strengthening combat capabilities.
The North Korean Navy has 24 Romeo-class submarines, which are mainly used in coastal areas to provide penetration support for special forces.
Conclusion
As North Korea continues to evolve its military strategy, the existence of KPASOF has brought new uneasiness to the US military and South Korea. As strategic confrontation escalates, this force will undoubtedly become an important factor in future military operations. In what direction will the future situation develop?
