List of active North Korean ships

Korean People's Army Naval Force
조선인민군 해군

Components
Korean People's Navy
History
History of the Korean People's Navy
Ships
Current Fleet
Naval Bases
Personnel
Senior Officers

This is a list of active ships of the Korean People's Army Naval Force. It is incomplete, as public information on the state's military is incomplete. Many of the vessels are ex-Soviet or Chinese vessels, some designs dating from 1950s, but extensively modified.

Submarines

Type	Class	Country of Origin	In Service	Notes
Diesel-electric submarine	Sinpo-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	1 (under construction)	First vessel in shipyard 2014, possibly others to come as a replacement for the Romeo subs.
Diesel-electric coastal submarine	Sang-O-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	40+	Manufactured in two variants, 34m Sang-O and 39m Sang-O II. 1 captured by ROK. North Korean Special Operation Force uses specially equipped Sang-O for missions.
Diesel-electric midget submarine	Yono-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	~10	Variant exported to Iran and operated as Ghadir-class submarine
Diesel-electric midget submarine	Yugo-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	few or none left	reported all retired or sold. Replaced by Yono and Sang-O
Diesel-electric submarine	Type-033 (Romeo)-class	People's Republic of China/Soviet Union/Democratic People's Republic of Korea	<22	KPA Journal reports that these are being phased out in favor of Sang-O/Sang-O II Sold as kits from China and was assembled in NK. Used by North Korean Special Operation Force for special maritime missions.
Diesel-electric submarine	Whiskey-class	Soviet Union	4 (reported retired as of March 2011)	KPA Journal reports that these have been retired and/or scrapped however at least one submarine was seen operative during 2013 exercises:

Note: According to http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/20_05_10jigreport.pdf, "The North Korean military is in possession of a fleet of about 70 submarines, comprised of approximately 20 Romeo class submarines (1,800 tons), 40 Sang-O class submarines (300 tons) and 10 midget submarines including the Yono class submarines (130 tons)."

Frigates & Corvettes

Type	Class	Country of Origin	In Service	Notes
Frigate	Krivak-class	Soviet Union	1(?)	Unknown status of service.
Light frigate	Najin-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	2	Old vessels, one was modernized in 2014
Experimental catamaran frigate	Soho-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	1	Reported retired in 2009.
Helicopter-carrying light frigate	Nampo-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	2 ~ 3	New buildings.
Corvette	Sariwon-class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	4	Based on Tral-class
Corvette	Tral-class	Soviet Union	2	Probably in reserve due to old age.

Note: Recent satellite images indicate that the empty hull of a Krivak-class frigate was purchased by North Korea around 2003. The ship was likely bought from a Russian scrap dealer, lacking any weapons or radar upon purchase. While it was assumed that North Korea purchased the hull to scrap it for scrap metal, it remains in its original state for nearly five years, and has recently been transported from Wonsan to Nampo Harbor. Because the hull still remains intact, North Korea is believed to have plans for reinstalling weapons systems (including provisions for helicopters, naval guns and as a testbed for North Korea's newly developed Anti-Ship Missile) upon the empty hull, subsequently transforming it into North Korea's flagship. Furthermore, this claim is reinforced by the fact that a shipyard lies close to Nampo Harbor. Nevertheless, the ship currently remains only as an empty hull. Note: In the most current Google Earth imagery the Krivak is no longer in Nampho Harbor likely meaning the ship has either been scrapped or brought into service.

Note: Recent satellite images also show 2 new North Korean Helicopter Frigates. Though it's unknown whether they are ready for service.

Torpedo boats & missile craft

Type	Class	Country of Origin	In Service	Notes
SES Stealth missile boat	Nongo class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	6	Unknown missile (or torpedo) armament.
PTG missile craft	Soju class/Osa I class missile boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	8
PTG missile craft	Huangfeng class	People's Republic of China	4
PTG small missile boat	Sohung/Komar class	Soviet Union/Democratic People's Republic of Korea	6
PTG missile craft	Komar class missile boat	Soviet Union	6
PT torpedo boat	Shershen class	Soviet Union/Democratic People's Republic of Korea	3
PT torpedo boat	Sinnam class torpedo boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
PT small torpedo boat	Sin Hung class torpedo boat / Ku Song class torpedo boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	142
PT small torpedo boat	P-6 class torpedo boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	12
torpedo boat	Ku Song class torpedo boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	60

Patrol boats

File:North Korean Navy ship.jpg

A North Korean Navy Tral Class Corvette in 1993

Type	Class	Country of Origin	In Service
PG gun patrol boat	T Class patrol boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
PG gun patrol boat	Mayang class patrol boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
PC large coastal patrol boat	Taechong class I/II patrol boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	13
PC large coastal patrol boat	Hainan class	People's Republic of China	6
PC coastal patrol boat	Chodo class patrol boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	3
PC/PT/PTG/WPC coastal/torpedo/armed patrol boat	Chong-Ju class patrol boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	6
PC coastal patrol boat	SO-1 class patrol boat	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	19
Coastal patrol boat	Shanghai II class	People's Republic of China	13
PC small coastal patrol boats	Sinpo class (Steel version of P-6)	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	18
Coastal patrol boat	K-48 class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
Patrol boat	Chongjin class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	54
Torpedo/patrol boat	P-6 class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
Fast attack craft	Chaho class (Based on P-6 torpedo boats)	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	59
Patrol boat	Shantou class	People's Republic of China	N/A

Utility/landing craft

Type	Class	Country of Origin	In Service
LCU utility landing craft	Hantae class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	8-10
LCM medium landing craft	Hungnam class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	15
LCU medium landing craft	Hanchon class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	15
LCPA amphibious landing craft	Kong Bang class I/II/III	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
LCP Landing Craft, Personnel	Nampo class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	95
PT assault torpedo boats	Chong Jin class - based on Chaho class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	51
LCPA amphibious landing craft	Nampo class A/B	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
LCVP Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel	Nampo class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	100
ACV assault hovercraft	Kongbang class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	135-140
Minesweeping boats	Yukto class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	23
Fleet Ocean Tug	AT/F	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	2
WPB coastal cutters	Yongdo class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
WPB coastal cutters	N/A	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
ASR submarine rescue ship (Catamaran-hulled rescue/salvage ship)	Kowan class	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	N/A
AS - Submarine Tender	N/A	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	1
Ocean AGHS - Patrol Combatant Support Ship	N/A	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	1
Inshore AGHS - Patrol Combatant Support Ship	N/A	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	3

External links

• Global Security