North Korea Military Bases & Installations

OSINT intelligence database · Source: Open-source analysis · Verified 2025

7
Total Bases
3
Air Bases
2
Naval Bases
2
Military
AIR BASES & AIR FORCE INSTALLATIONS (3)
Hwangju Air Base
Air Base
Location
North Korea
Operator
KPAF 3rd Air Division
Personnel
3,000 est.
Established
1950
Garrison: MiG-19 (F-6) regiment — frontline DMZ air defence
Closest major KPAF base to DMZ. MiG-19 (obsolete but numerous). Forward attack capability vs ROK/US.
Strategic: MiG-19 technically obsolete but 200+ in service. Sheer numbers create saturation threat in any contingency. 40km from Seoul.
Sohae Satellite Launching Station
Missile / Space Launch
Location
North Korea
Operator
DPRK Aerospace Technology Administration
Personnel
1,000 est.
Established
2010
Garrison: Paektusan ICBM launcher, Hwasong-18 test, satellite programme
ICBM test launches. Space launch vehicle. Hwasong-15/17/18 ICBM development. Reconsat Malligyong-1 launched 2023.
Strategic: Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM launched from here. Range >15,000km covers CONUS. Reconsat operational 2023.
Sunan Air Base (Pyongyang International)
Air Base
Location
North Korea
Operator
KPAF 1st Air Division
Personnel
5,000 est.
Established
1945
Garrison: MiG-29B/UB (40+), MiG-23ML/MLD, Il-62M VIP transport — Pyongyang defence
KPAF primary base. MiG-29B most capable DPRK fighter. Pyongyang capital defence. Kim Jong-un VIP transport.
Strategic: MiG-29 acquired from Russia/Kazakhstan. Most advanced DPRK aircraft. DPRK air power largely obsolete vs modern fighters.
NAVAL BASES & MARITIME INSTALLATIONS (2)
DPRK Western Fleet / Nampo Naval Base
Naval Base
Location
North Korea
Operator
Korean People's Navy — West Sea Fleet
Personnel
6,000 est.
Established
1948
Garrison: West Sea Fleet — Sang-O class submarines, ASDIC-equipped patrol craft, hovercraft
Yellow Sea patrol. Sang-O class submarines (midget, infiltration capable). Korea Bay control. China maritime link.
Strategic: West Sea fleet conducts Yellow Sea intrusions. 2010 Cheonan sinking (46 killed) attributed to DPRK Sang-O class torpedo.
Wonsan Naval Base (East Sea Fleet)
Naval Base
Location
North Korea
Operator
Korean People's Navy — East Sea Fleet
Personnel
8,000 est.
Established
1946
Garrison: East Sea Fleet — Romeo-class submarines (40+), SHERSHEN torpedo boats, ship-to-ship missile
KPN primary east base. 40+ submarines (mostly Romeo-class Cold War era). Midget subs for infiltration. Torpedo attack.
Strategic: DPRK operates world's largest submarine fleet numerically (70+) — nearly all obsolete but midget subs used for infiltration/mining.
ARMY BASES, COMMANDS & STRATEGIC FACILITIES (2)
KPA Ground Forces Command (Pyongyang)
Command HQ
Location
North Korea
Operator
Korean People's Army Ground Forces
Personnel
15,000 est.
Established
1948
Garrison: KPA GF Command, 820th Armoured Corps, Pokpung-ho MBT, 240mm MLRS, Hwasong ballistic missiles
KPA 1.2 million-strong army. Pokpung-ho MBT. 240mm MLRS Seoul range. 70% forces forward deployed near DMZ.
Strategic: 70% of KPA forward-deployed 50km from DMZ — designed to overwhelm defences quickly. 12,000 artillery tubes targeting Seoul.
Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre
Nuclear Facility
Location
North Korea
Operator
Korean People's Army / WPK
Personnel
3,000 est.
Established
1963
Garrison: 5MWe reactor, centrifuge enrichment, weaponisation
50+ nuclear warheads. 5MWe Pu reactor. HEU enrichment. Weaponisation research. ICBM warhead programme.
Strategic: IAEA inspection refused since 1994. 50+ warheads estimated. ICBMs now potentially capable of hitting CONUS.

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