Military ranks of North Korea

The Military ranks of North Korea are the military insignia used by the Korean People's Army. Due to the close military cooperation, North Korean ranks are inspired by the Soviet ranks system.[1]

## Special ranks

[edit]

North Korean rank[2] | North Korean insignia[3][failed verification]

|

Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(Korean: 대원수, romanized: Tae wonsu)[a] |

Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(Korean: 공화국원수, romanized: Konghwaguk Wonsu)[b] |

## Commissioned officer ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

|
|
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Korean People's Army Ground Force[2]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
인민군원수
Inmingun-wonsu | 차수
Chasu | 대장
Daejang | 상장
Sangjang | 중장
Chungjang | 소장
Sojang | 대좌
Daechwa | 상좌
Sangjwa | 중좌
Chungjwa | 소좌
Sojwa | 대위
Taewi | 상위
Sangwi | 중위
Chungwi | 소위
Sowi
Korean People's Navy[2]

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* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
인민군원수
Inmingun-wonsu | 차수
Chasu | 대장
Daejang | 상장
Sangjang | 중장
Chungjang | 소장
Sojang | 대좌
Daechwa | 상좌
Sangjwa | 중좌
Chungjwa | 소좌
Sojwa | 대위
Taewi | 상위
Sangwi | 중위
Chungwi | 소위
Sowi
Navy sleeve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Korean People's Army Air Force[2]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
인민군원수
Inmingun-wonsu | 차수
Chasu | 대장
Daejang | 상장
Sangjang | 중장
Chungjang | 소장
Sojang | 대좌
Daechwa | 상좌
Sangjwa | 중좌
Chungjwa | 소좌
Sojwa | 대위
Taewi | 상위
Sangwi | 중위
Chungwi | 소위
Sowi
Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

## Other ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group  | Senior NCOs  | Junior NCOs  | Enlisted

|
|
|

Korean People's Army Ground Force[2]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
특무상사
T'ŭkmu-sangsa | 상사
Sangsa | 중사
Chungsa | 하사
Hasa | 상급병사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa | 중급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa | 하급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa | 전사
Chŏnsa
Korean People's Navy[2]

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* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
특무상사
T'ŭkmu-sangsa | 상사
Sangsa | 중사
Chungsa | 하사
Hasa | 상급병사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa | 중급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa | 하급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa | 전사
Chŏnsa
Korean People's Army Air Force[2]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
특무상사
T'ŭkmu-sangsa | 상사
Sangsa | 중사
Chungsa | 하사
Hasa | 상급병사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa | 중급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa | 하급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa | 전사
Chŏnsa
Rank group  | Senior NCOs  | Junior NCOs  | Enlisted

## See also

[edit]

* Comparative military ranks of Korea
* Military ranks of South Korea

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Highest possible political-military rank of North Korea and is intended to be an honorific title for the nation’s Great Leaders.
2. ^ Highest political-military rank reserved only for Supreme Leader of North Korea.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Keegan, John (1979). "North Korea". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 409\. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
2. ^ a b c d e f g Minnich, James M. (2008). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L. (ed.). North Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 266, 268. LCCN 2008028547. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
3. ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (14 March 2017). "North Korea's baffling personalized rank insignia, explained". NK News. Korea Risk Group. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* "Korea (North – Democratic People's Republic)". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

* v
* t
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Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Former|

* People's Republic of Angola
* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Kingdom of Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Katanga
* People's Republic of Mozambique
* Rhodesia
* South West Africa
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Apartheid States in Southern Africa

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Enlisted:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Other:
* Marine Corps
* Space Force
* Warrant officer
* Opposing forces
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Former|

* Canada (pre-Unification)
* Confederate States of America
* Union
* Army
* Navy
* Costa Rica
* Republic of Cuba
* Empire of Brazil
* Panama
* Republic of Texas
* Army
* Navy
* United States Army enlisted
* World War I
* World War II

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* PR of China
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Rocket Force
* Armed Police
* India
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Border Roads Organisation
* Paramilitary forces
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North
* South
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Marines
* Civil Armed Forces
* Maritime Security Agency
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former|

* Artsakh
* China
* Empire
* Republic (1912–1949)
* Dutch East Indies
* East Turkestan (Second Republic)
* People's Republic of Kampuchea
* Imperial Iran
* Imperial Japan
* Army
* Navy
* Korea
* Empire
* Liberation Army
* Kingdom of Laos
* Manchukuo
* Mengjiang
* Mongolian People's Republic
* Vietnam
* State
* South
* South Yemen
* Tibet
* Tuva

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Europe|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Army
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Air and Space Force
* Foresters
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Land Forces
* Coast Guard
* Ireland
* Italy
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Carabinieri
* Finance Guard
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* North Macedonia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Cossacks
* Between 1994 and 2010
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Other:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Vatican

States with
limited recognition|

* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Transnistria

Former|

* Albania
* Kingdom
* People's Socialist Republic
* Austria–Hungary
* Army
* Navy
* Bulgaria
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* German Empire
* Weimar Republic
* Nazi Germany
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Germany
* Kingdom of Greece
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* France
* Napoleonic Grand Army
* Hungary
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Italy
* Kingdom
* Social Republic
* Ottoman Empire
* Polish People's Republic
* Republika Srpska
* Romania
* Kingdom
* Socialist Republic
* Russian Empire
* White Movement
* Slovakia (First Republic)
* Soviet Union
* 1918–35
* 1935–40
* 1940–43
* 1943–55
* 1955–91
* Spain
* 2nd Republic
* State
* Yugoslavia
* Kingdom
* Socialist Federal Republic
* Federal Republic

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Language|

| Anglophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

|

Arabophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Francophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Gendarmerie
* Officers
* Enlisted

Hispanophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Lusophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Military police
* Officers
* Enlisted

Post-Soviet states|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Commonwealth of Nations|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

European Union|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

NATO|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air Force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Comparative ranks of

* Star ranking
* WWI
* Officers
* WWII
* Officers
* Women's services
* Marine forces
* Space forces
* Gendarmeries
* UK and US

* v
* t
* e

Korean People's Army

Active forces|

* Ground Force
* Navy
* Air Force
* Strategic Force
* Special Operations Forces
* Missile Administration

Paramilitary and reserve forces|

* Worker-Peasant Red Guards
* Red Youth Guards
* Reserve Military Training Units
* Social Security Forces

Senior leadership|

* Commander-in-Chief
* Central Military Commission
* State Affairs Commission (formerly National Defence Commission)
* Ministry of Defence
* General Political Bureau
* General Staff Department
* Supreme Guard Command
* Military Security Command
* Reconnaissance General Bureau

History|

* Military history of Korea
* List of militant Korean independence activist organizations
* Korean People's Revolutionary Army
* Korean Volunteer Army
* Naval history of Korea

WMDs

Biological
Chemical
Nuclear
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