Korean People's Army Special Operations Forces

North Korean special operations forces existed by late-1968 when maritime commandos made the unsuccessful Uljin–Samcheok Landings against South Korea.Bolger, Daniel P., "Scenes from an Unfinished War: Low Intensity Conflict in Korea, 1966–1969", Leavenworth Papers No. 19, Combat Studies Institute, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, p. 86

A new special operations unit wearing what appeared to be modern combat gear appeared in the Day of the Sun military parade on 15 April 2017.{{cite web|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/04/18/2017041801101.html|title=N.Korea Touts Special Ops Forces|publisher=Chosun Ilbo|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114838/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/04/18/2017041801101.html|archivedate=2017-11-10|accessdate=2024-09-10|url-status=live}} According to North Korean state media, the new unit, the Lightning Commandos, was intended to counter the U.S. Navy SEALs and Republic of Korea Navy Special Warfare Flotilla.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zs1XNf_XnM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/7Zs1XNf_XnM |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=N.Korea state media confirms new special forces unit unveiled during Saturday's parade|last=ARIRANG NEWS|date=17 April 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://taskandpurpose.com/north-korea-special-operations-forces/|title=Why North Korea's Special Operations Forces Should Not Be Underestimated|first=Brian Adam|last=Jones|date=21 April 2017|publisher=|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-date=4 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104185830/https://taskandpurpose.com/north-korea-special-operations-forces|url-status=dead}}

On July 27, 2023, soldiers from the 41st Amphibious Assault Battalion marched during a military parade.{{cite web | url=https://www.nknews.org/2023/08/why-north-korea-debuted-a-new-battalion-to-hunt-down-south-korean-pirates/#selection-1099.41-1099.75 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230829142851/https://www.nknews.org/2023/08/why-north-korea-debuted-a-new-battalion-to-hunt-down-south-korean-pirates/#selection-1099.41-1099.75 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2023-08-29 | title=Why North Korea debuted a new battalion to hunt down South Korean 'pi… }}

Elements of the KPASOF have been deployed to Russia as a part of the North Korean involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |last1=Valerio |first1=Helen Regan |last2=Yoonjung Seo |first2=Mike |date=2024-12-18 |title=Indoctrinated, loyal and well trained: Don't underestimate North Korean soldiers in Russia, experts say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/17/asia/north-korean-soldiers-russia-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=CNN |language=en}}

The missions of the KPA Special Operations Forces are to breach the fixed defense of South Korea, to create a "second front" in the enemy's rear area, and to conduct battlefield and strategic reconnaissance.Handbook, North Korea, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C., 1993, p. 3-119{{cite encyclopedia|year=1994|title=North Korea: a country study|publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://archive.org/details/PAM550-81|editor-last=Savada|editor-first=Andrea Matles|edition=4th|pages=224|isbn=0-8444-0794-1|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}}}

The Antonov An-2 transport aircraft is used for infiltration.Bermudez, Joseph S. Jr., "North Korean Special Forces" (1988), Jane‘s Publishing Company, Surrey, United Kingdom{{page number needed|date=September 2024}}

Sometimes known as "sniper" brigades,{{whom|date=March 2025}} they are part of the ground intelligence effort of the KPA. Additionally, it is suspected {{whom|date=March 2025}} that these units carry out assassination attempts.

A 1998 U.S. Army estimate assessed that the North Koreans can deliver over 7,000 SOF personnel to each of South Korea's coastlines.Military Review, "Solving Threat SOF Challenges", MarApr 98, General John H. Tilelli Jr., U.S. Army, and Lieutenant Colonel William P. Gerhardt, U.S. Army Based on the number of ships available to the KPA special forces, they could deliver 5,000 of these soldiers in one lift (approximately 102 amphibious craft). It is expected that these special forces once ashore, will attempt to infiltrate South Korea's rugged terrain to attack the South Koreans in their rear areas just before and during the renewed commencement of hostilities between the two countries. The KPA Navy has 24 Romeo class diesel electric submarines. as well as specially outfitted Sang-O class submarines for coastal infiltrations. Finally, the KPA Navy possesses at least forty-five midget submarines for infiltrating two to five man teams into South Korean territory.Andrew Toppan, "World Navies Today: North Korea", [http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/n_korea.htm Hazegray Online], Accessed 30 May 2009

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• {{cite book |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn. |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=The Armed Forces of North Korea: On the Path of Songun |date=2020 |publisher=Helion and Company |location= |isbn=9781910777145}}

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Category:Military units and formations of the Korean People's Army Ground Force