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List of active ships of the Korean People's Navy
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This is a list of active ships of the Korean People's Navy, the naval service of North Korea. Most of the list includes ships of North Korean Origin. Yet, it also contains types that are less frequently used, with their origins from the former communist countries of the Soviet Union, and China. In late years, the production of lightly armored, yet mobile and maneuverable small PT Torpedo Boats increased, as well as patrol and landing craft used in case of national emergency. Submarines, on the other were costly, hard to manufacture. The corvettes of the Korean People's Navy were all outclassed by the 2000s and new ones are still under way.
Submarines
| Type | Class | Country of origin | In service | Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel-electric submarine | Sinpo/Gorae-class |  North Korea |
2 | First vessel in shipyard 2014, Experimental Ballistic Missile Submarine. May also be known as 'Gorae' (Whale class). Some reports suggests as many as six boats are being built, although others indicate that this is a single ship class for missile launch development only. | |
| Diesel-electric coastal submarine | Sang-O-class | North Korea |
40 | Manufactured in two variants, 34m Sang-O and 39m Sang-O II. 40 Sang-O I and 6 Sang-O II in operation. 1 Sang-O I captured by ROK. North Korean Special Operation Force uses specially equipped Sang-O for missions. |  |
| Diesel-electric midget submarine | Yono-class | North Korea |
36 | Iran operates a variant as the Ghadir-class submarine | |
| Diesel-electric submarine | Type-033 |  China |
20 | KPA Journal reported that these are being phased out in favor of Sang-O/Sang-O II. One has been modified to launch ballistic missiles.[3] Sold as kits from China and was assembled in North Korea.[4] Used by North Korean Special Operation Force for special maritime missions. |  |
Destroyers
| Type | Class | Country of origin | In service | Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destroyer | Choe Hyon-class | North Korea |
2 | First ship commissioned on April 25, 2025.[5]
At the launch of the second ship it was announced that two more were approved for construction. [6] Second ship of the class launched on June 12, 2025 |
Frigates and corvettes
| Type | Class | Country of origin | In service | Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frigate | Najin-class | North Korea |
2+ | Old vessels, one was modernized in 2014[7] |  |
| Corvette | Amnok-class | North Korea |
2[8] | Allegedly built using Krivak class hull.[9] Has 8 Kumsong-3 (KN-19) anti ship missiles, 6 FN-6 SAM missiles, 1 76mm gun, 2 AK-230 anti air guns, 4 533mm torpedoes and 4 RBU-1200 anti submarine rocket launchers[8] | |
| Corvette | Nampo-class | North Korea |
2 | One more likely under construction. Also called Tuman class.[10] | |
| Corvette | Sariwon-class | North Korea |
4 | Based on Tral-class |  |
| Corvette/minesweeper | Fugas-class minesweeper |  Soviet Union |
1 | Ex-Т-2 Tros (c. 1935) transferred 1953. Probably in reserve due to old age. |
Note: Satellite images from 2007 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 for scrap metal, it remains in its original state for nearly five years, and has been transported from Wonsan to Nampo Harbor.[11]
Torpedo boats and missile craft
| Type | Class | Country of origin | In service | Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SES Stealth missile boat | Nongo class | North Korea |
7 | [12][13] | |
| PTG missile craft | Soju class | North Korea |
10 |  | |
| PTG missile craft | Huangfeng class | China |
4 |  | |
| PTG small missile boat | Komar class | Soviet Union |
6 | ||
| PT small torpedo boat | Sin Hung class torpedo boat / Ku Song class torpedo boat | North Korea |
84 | ||
| Semi sub torpedo boat | Daedong class torpedo boat | North Korea |
3 |
Patrol boats
| Type | Class | Country of origin | In service | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG gun patrol boat | T Class patrol boat | North Korea |
N/A | |
| PG gun patrol boat | Mayang class patrol boat | North Korea |
N/A | |
| PC large coastal patrol boat | Taechong class I/II patrol boat | North Korea |
12 |  |
| PC large coastal patrol boat | Hainan class | China |
6 |  |
| PC/PT/PTG/WPC coastal/torpedo/armed patrol boat | Chong-Ju class patrol boat | North Korea |
6 | |
| PC coastal patrol boat | SO-1 class patrol boat | Soviet Union |
19 | |
| Coastal patrol boat | Shanghai 2 class | China |
13 |  |
| PC small coastal patrol boats | Sinpo class (Steel version of Pr. 183) | North Korea |
18 | |
| Patrol boat | Chongjin class (Pr. 183 with ZIS-S-53 and two 2M-5) | North Korea |
54 | |
| attack crafts | Chaho class (Based on Pr. 183 torpedo boats) | North Korea |
59 |
Utility/landing craft
| Type | Class | Country of origin | In service |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCU utility landing craft | Hantae class | North Korea |
|
| LCM medium landing craft | Hungnam class | North Korea |
15 |
| LCU medium landing craft | Hanchon class | North Korea |
36 |
| LCPA amphibious landing craft | Kong Bang class I/II/III | North Korea |
|
| LCP Landing Craft, Personnel | Nampo class | North Korea |
|
| PT assault torpedo boats | Chong Jin class - based on Chaho class | North Korea |
|
| LCPA amphibious landing craft | Nampo class A/B | North Korea |
48 |
| LCVP Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel | Nampo class | North Korea |
|
| ACV assault hovercraft | Kongbang class | North Korea |
|
| Minesweeping boats | Yukto class | North Korea |
|
| Fleet Ocean Tugboat | AT/F | North Korea |
|
| WPB coastal cutters | Yongdo class | North Korea |
|
| WPB coastal cutters | N/A | North Korea |
|
| ASR Submarine rescue ship (Catamaran-hulled rescue/salvage ship) | Kowan class | North Korea |
1[14] |
| AS - Submarine tender | N/A | North Korea |
1 |
| Ocean AGHS - Patrol Combatant Support Ship | N/A | North Korea |
1 |
| Inshore AGHS - Patrol Combatant Support Ship | N/A | North Korea |
30 |
| Very slender vessels | Nalchi class[15] | North Korea |
Naval Aviation
Only 4 ships in the KPN have aviation capability with Nampo-class corvette and two Choe Hyon-class destroyers the only active ships with facilities.[16] The rotary aircraft would likely be the Mil Mi-4 PL Mil Mi-14 PL (ASW)[17] and are flown by Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force.