An inventory of camouflage uniforms equipped by the Korean People's Army

It is common to see online that North Korean soldiers generally do not have camouflage uniforms. Even in the 21st century, they still wear dark green or grass-green monochromatic combat uniforms, which always give people a feeling of the 1970s and 1980s. They have even been labeled as "backward" by the West. However, North Korea is not without camouflage uniforms. Camouflage uniforms are mainly equipped for some special units, such as special forces, missile troops and airborne troops.

In recent years, however, the military strength of the DPRK has developed rapidly. It not only possesses "strategic weapons", but also has made great improvements in individual soldier equipment. The regular troops have also started to be issued camouflage uniforms, and even the most mainstream digital camouflage uniforms at present.

Well, in this issue, we are going to take everyone to simply learn about what camouflage uniforms the Korean People's Army has been equipped with from the early days to the present. However, since the actual names of most styles have not been found, we have to tentatively refer to them by color blocks and features for the time being.

M1944 TTsMKK Camouflage Uniform

During the 1960s to 1970s, the special forces of the Korean People's Army were equipped with the M1944 TTsMKK three-color camouflage one-piece coverall imported from the former Soviet Union. This was also one of the earliest camouflage uniforms equipped by the Korean military. The camouflage color blocks on this version consisted of three parts: khaki, dark green and grass green, and were available in two styles: light-colored and dark-colored. It had a good concealment effect in grassland or jungle environments. The hat, upper body and lower body of the camouflage uniform were all connected together, but it was not particularly convenient for soldiers to wear.

Duck Hunting Camouflage Uniform

In the mid-1980s, the reconnaissance troops of the Korean People's Army were also equipped with a type of combat uniform similar to the Type 85 "Duck Hunting" camouflage uniform produced in China. However, in essence, its camouflage color blocks differed from those of the original Type 85. It mainly consisted of three colors: grass green, olive green, and sand color, with larger camouflage patterns. The DPRK's "Duck Hunting" camouflage uniform also had a dual-purpose design: the front side featured lighter camouflage colors, while the back side had slightly darker ones. Similarly, this version was also designed for grassland and jungle environments.

Four-color Patch Camouflage Uniform

In the 1990s, a small number of four-color spotted camouflage uniforms also appeared in the Korean People's Army. In addition to sand color and grass green, they also added khaki and brown. They had a good hiding effect in plateau environments. However, this version of camouflage uniform was very few in quantity and almost uncommon.

Vertical-stripe Leaf Camouflage Uniform

In the early 21st century, the special forces and frontline commanders of the Korean People's Army were equipped with a small number of vertical-stripe leaf camouflage uniforms. The camouflage color blocks on them consisted of four parts: black, brown, olive green and grass green, with the color blocks shaped like stripes. The design of this camouflage uniform also referenced the woodland camouflage uniforms of China's Armed Police Force produced in the 1980s and 1990s. Similarly, the quantity of this vertical-stripe leaf camouflage uniform produced in the DPRK was very small, and it has now been decommissioned, replaced by digital camouflage uniforms with better concealment effects.

Four-color Leaf Pattern Camouflage Uniform

Also in the 21st century, with reference to China's Type 87 woodland camouflage uniform, the DPRK designed its own four-color leaf pattern camouflage uniform, which was mainly intended for jungle environments. It was predominantly grass green, combined with camouflage color blocks of black, brown and sand. Compared with the previously designed camouflage uniforms, this version had better camouflage effects. At that time, it was mainly equipped to airborne troops, missile units and officers commanding exercises, but now this type of camouflage uniform has also been decommissioned from the Korean People's Army.

Woodland Camouflage Uniform

This woodland camouflage pattern is surely familiar to everyone, as it often appears in military parades. It is said that this camouflage pattern originally came from South Korea and was smuggled into the DPRK through various channels. Later, this batch of camouflage fabric was used to make a new type of camouflage combat uniform, which was distributed to the DPRK special forces stationed along the 38th Parallel. It was also due to the issue of camouflage leakage that South Korea was prompted to switch to digital camouflage uniforms.

Although various new types of digital camouflage uniforms have emerged in the DPRK now, this woodland camouflage uniform is still in service with the special forces and airborne troops of the Korean People's Army.

Snow Camouflage Uniform

Based on the aforementioned woodland camouflage uniform, the color scheme was re-adjusted to design a snow camouflage uniform for special forces. The main body of the combat uniform is white, with dark gray and light gray camouflage patterns added on it. It also incorporates the one-piece wearing feature of the former Soviet M1944 TTsMKK camouflage uniform, thus having better concealment in snowy environments.

Camouflage Uniform Imitating the British DPM
 

Some border defense units of the DPRK are also equipped with jungle camouflage uniforms imitating the British DPM, but their color adjustment is very similar to China's Type 04 special operations camouflage. The main color is dark green, with three camouflage color blocks of black, brown and sand added on it. Similarly, this type of camouflage uniform is also extremely rare in the Korean military, even rarer than the four-color patch camouflage mentioned above.

Urban Camouflage Uniform

 In 2017, the Korean People's Army gradually began to equip its special forces with standardized camouflage combat uniforms, such as the new urban camouflage uniform. Its main body is light gray, combined with three camouflage color blocks of black, brown and gray-blue. Even the soldiers' helmets in the picture are painted with such camouflage patterns.

Three-color Winter Camouflage

The border defense forces of the Korean People's Army provide soldiers with three-color winter camouflage uniforms in winter. These uniforms consist of three colors: black, white, and gray. The three soldiers in the picture wearing such camouflage uniforms, along with sunglasses, give a strong impression of being South Korean soldiers.

Digital camouflage in trial use

In military parades in previous years, the special forces of the DPRK were equipped with tactical vests and helmet covers painted with digital camouflage, which were divided into three versions.

The first type is particularly similar to China's current starry sky camouflage, with very small camouflage color blocks on it.

The second type is a two-color camouflage, consisting of a tactical vest made up of khaki and sand colors.

The third type is very similar to the digital camouflage used by the U.S. Marine Corps, consisting of four colors: light green, sand, dark green, and black.

Two-color camouflage

In last year's military parade, the chemical defense units of the DPRK were also equipped with two-color camouflage uniforms consisting of light green and olive green. This camouflage pattern was applied to both their helmets and combat uniforms (in the picture, the outer layer is a protective suit, with the camouflage uniform underneath).

Digital camouflage uniforms after 2020

After 2020, the Korean People's Army began to extensively replace its uniforms with digital camouflage ones, which are available for various terrains, environments and military branches.

 Subsequently, desert digital camouflage uniforms composed of gray, sand, and khaki emerged.

There is also a two-color desert digital camouflage uniform composed of desert color and mud color, and this version is mainly equipped with missile troops.

The regular troops are also equipped with urban digital camouflage uniforms composed of black, gray and green, which are mainly assigned to regular forces. From a distance, they look quite similar to the Type 07 jungle camouflage of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

In addition, the regular troops are also equipped with new woodland digital camouflage with green as the main color. 

Digital snow camouflage uniforms designed for winter environments.

The navy is also equipped with ocean camouflage uniforms composed of blue, gray, and white, whose design is somewhat similar to that of the U.S. Navy.

All-terrain camouflage uniforms for special forces

In addition to digital camouflage uniforms, special forces, airborne units, and reconnaissance units are also equipped with all-terrain camouflage uniforms similar to those used by Western special forces.

For some tank units, they are also equipped with all-terrain camouflage uniforms with dark green as the main color.

We have a wide variety of camouflage uniforms for sale, which can be customized. Welcome to leave a message for consultation!

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