The following are used as sniper weapons in the DPRK:
- Mosin sniper rifles of the 1891/1930 model, probably already withdrawn from service with the KPA and transferred to the RKKG;
Mosin sniper rifle model 1891/1930 with a VP telescopic sight
- Soviet SVD sniper rifles and their Chinese clones "Type 79" and the modernized "Type 85".
Chinese clone SVD- "Type 79"
In addition, a Jeogyeok-Bochong sniper rifle chambered for 7, 62x54, used in the Mosin and SVD sniper rifles, is produced on the basis of the AK in the DPRK based on the type of the Yugoslavian Zastava M-76 sniper rifle, caliber 7, 92x57-mm Mauser.
Yugoslavian sniper rifle "Zastava M-76"
The main KPA light machine gun during the Korean War was the Soviet DP-27, its modernized version of the DPM and its Chinese counterpart "Type 53".
An American soldier during the Korean War with a captured North Korean DP-27
At present, DP light machine guns have been removed from service by the KPA and transferred to parts of the militia - the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Guard (RKKG).
The rally after the exercises of the RKKG exercises: Type 58 assault rifles (North Korean copy of the AK-47), PPSh submachine guns, Mosin carbines of the 1944 model, RPG-2 anti-tank grenade launchers
Later, RP-46 light machine guns and their Chinese counterparts "Type 58", which were DP with a weighted barrel and ammunition supply from belts with a capacity of 200 or 250 rounds, began to be supplied to the DPRK. The North Koreans liked RP-46 so much that they began to produce its own copy - "Type 64". Currently, the machine gun is considered obsolete and also transferred to the RKKG.
North Korean copy of RP-46 - Type 64 machine gun
In 1962, under the designation "Type 62", the production of RPDs was launched in the DPRK. The machine gun lasted long enough in service with the KPA, but is currently being actively transferred to the RKKG, being replaced by the RPK-74 or its North Korean clone.
RKKG exercises, in the foreground DP-27 or its Chinese copy, then 2 Type 62 light machine guns (RPD), followed by a Type 64 machine gun (RP-46)
Whether the KPA was in service with the PKK is not exactly established, some sources claim that yes, others that no, and that the North Koreans limited themselves to RPD. I personally have not seen photographs of North Korean soldiers from the PKK, if anyone has them, I will be very happy. With the adoption in 1988 of a copy of the AK-74 of caliber 5, 45 mm, the North Koreans adopted the RPK-74 of the same caliber. Whether the RPK-74 is produced in the DPRK, I can’t say for sure, but most likely yes, since the photographs from the parades show a different shape of the butt and the flame arrester, in addition, the forend of the machine gun is made of plastic, not wood.
KPA soldiers with RPK-74 at the parade
However, the North Koreans have developed their own machine gun - "Type 73". The concept of a dual-feed machine gun (magazine / belt) was probably borrowed from the Czechoslovak Vz.52 machine gun, the general layout and arrangement of the main units - from the Soviet Kalashnikov PK machine gun. A distinctive feature of the machine gun from the overwhelming majority of foreign counterparts is its dual power supply: without any change of standard units, box magazines for 30 rounds inserted into the weapon from above or a non-scattering metal tape with a closed link from a Kalashnikov machine gun can be used.
The Type 73 light machine gun uses gas-operated automatics, the barrel is locked by turning the bolt. The fire is conducted from an open shutter, only in automatic mode. Air cooled barrel, fast. The supply of cartridges is double - box-shaped magazines of the original design with a capacity of 30 cartridges inserted into the weapon from above can be used, or a non-scattering metal tape with a closed link from the Kalashnikov PK machine gun.
Machine gun "Type 73" with an installed box magazine
The machine gun is normally equipped with a wooden stock, a pistol grip and a folding metal bipod. Sights are displaced to the left of the weapon axis. A distinctive feature of the Type 73 light machine gun is the presence of interchangeable muzzle attachments, which are twisted over the barrel, in front of the gas block. The machine gun is standardly equipped with two types of attachments: one with a muzzle brake-compensator in the front part and the second with a tubular outer guide for launching rifle grenades. One of the muzzle attachments, as a rule, is placed directly on the barrel, the second (not in use at the moment) is attached under the gas tube of the machine gun.
Machine gun "Type 73". A muzzle is installed on the barrel - a nozzle for throwing rifle grenades, a replaceable muzzle with a muzzle brake is fixed in the stowed position under the gas pipe
MAIN TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPE 73 MACHINE GUN:
Caliber - 7, 62x54.
Length - 1190 mm.
Barrel length - 608 mm.
Weight without cartridges - 10.6 kg.
Rate of fire - 600-700 rounds per minute.
Food - 30-round box magazine or tape.
KPA fighter with "award" machine gun "Type 73" - a silver sample, plated with nickel or white chrome, By the way, it is interesting to see how the calculation of such a Type 73 machine gun is worth while protecting events in the city: the machine gun is not in the hands, but on the asphalt on the bipod, two crewmen stand side by side and usually observe the terrain in different directions with their backs to each other.
Type 73 machine gun like to depict on propaganda posters of North Korea
Whether a single PKM machine gun or its Chinese copy "Type 80" was delivered to the DPRK, I do not know. At least there is no photo or video evidence of such deliveries. However, the KPA is armed with PKT and PKB machine guns installed on military equipment supplied from the USSR.
Chinese clone PKM - "Type 80"
The first machine gun of the KPA was the Soviet Maxim machine gun of the 1910/30 model, supplied before and during the Korean War.
KPA soldiers in the trenches on the 38th parallel, in the center can be seen the Maxim machine gun arr. 1910/30
American soldiers inspect captured Soviet-made North Korean weapons; in the foreground, the Maxim machine gun arr. 1910/30
During the war, the KPA was supplied with a single SG-43 machine gun.
Heavy machine gun SG-43
At present, both the Maxims and the SG-43 have been removed from service and transferred either to warehouses or RKKG.
Before and during the Korean War, a large-caliber DShK machine gun was also supplied from the USSR, which was used both as infantry and anti-aircraft weapons.
I could not find any information about its current state, it looks like it has been stored and replaced by a KPV. Also, I was unable to find evidence of the use of the KPA machine gun NSV-12, 7 "Utes".
The main KPA heavy machine gun is the KPV. It is installed on armored vehicles, in anti-aircraft guns ZPU-1, ZPU-2 and ZPU-4, produced in the DPRK, as a weapon for improvised ZSU on the chassis of the ZIL-130 truck, produced in the DPRK under a Soviet license.
Female crew of the anti-aircraft gun ZPU-4
Whether KPV is produced in the DPRK, I do not know, although I think that such a large number of them can hardly be explained by Soviet supplies.
Also in service with the KPA is the AGS-117 "Flame" automatic grenade launcher. Whether these are Soviet deliveries, or a Chinese unlicensed copy, or whether it is produced in the DPRK itself, is unknown.
The first KPA infantry anti-tank weapons were the Soviet anti-tank rifles PTRD and PTRS of the 1941 model.
American soldiers in Korea inspect an ATGM, converted for the needs of a sniper. Note the powerful spotter's monocle
During the Korean War, captured American M-20 "Superbazuka" grenade launchers and its Chinese copy "Type 51" were used.
After the Korean War, Soviet 40-mm RPG-2 anti-tank grenade launchers and their Chinese counterparts "Type 56" began to be supplied to the DPRK. Moreover, the RPG was probably produced in the DPRK. Currently, RPGs have been removed from service and transferred to the RKKG.
RKKG militiamen firing from RPG-2 during exercises
The RPG-2 was replaced in the KPA by another Soviet grenade launcher, the RPG-7. In addition, its Chinese copy - "Type 69" was supplied to the DPRK. Perhaps the RPG-7 is produced in the DPRK itself.
Moreover, in the DPRK for the RPG-7, a tandem grenade was developed, similar to the Soviet PG-7VR "Resume"
How many RPG-7s and their Chinese and possibly North Korean copies are in the DPRK, no one knows …
However, recently the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was seen with a similar weapon in his hands.
Presumably this is a single-shot "break" grenade launcher, of a fairly large caliber, the name is unknown.
Before and during the Korean War, the ROKS-3 backpack flamethrower was delivered to the DPRK.
Subsequently, it was replaced by a light infantry flamethrower also of the LPO-50 knapsack type and its Chinese copy "Type 74".
LPO-50 is still in service with the KPA. However, at one of the parades a copy of the RPO-A "Bumblebee" jet flamethrower was demonstrated. In terms of high-explosive effect, its 93-mm caliber on the main types of targets is not inferior to 122-152-mm artillery shells, destroys all living things in a volume of 80 m3.
In addition to the indicated flamethrowers, a heavy infantry flamethrower TPO-50M was also supplied to the DPRK, but its current status is not known to me.
