Worker-Peasant Red Guards

The Worker-Peasant Red Guards (WPRG; Korean: 로농적위군), also translated as Workers and Peasants' Red Militia (WPRM),[2] is a paramilitary force in North Korea. It is the largest civil defense force in North Korea. It was established on January 14, 1959 by Kim Il-sung[3] and is not only under State Affairs Commission (until 2016 National Defense Commission) and Ministry of People's Armed Forces control, but is also attached to the Workers' Party of Korea under its Military Affairs Department.

Worker-Peasant Red Guards
Worker-Peasant Red Guards
로농적위군
Emblem of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards
FoundedJanuary 1959 (1959-01)
Country North Korea
AllegianceKim Jong-un[1]
TypeParamilitary militia
RoleCivil Defense
Size5 million personnel
Colors　
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
로농적위군
Hancha
勞農赤衛軍
Revised RomanizationRonongjeogwigun
McCune–ReischauerRonongjŏgwigun
Worker-Peasant Red Guards at the Samjiyon grand monument.

The militia is organized on a provincial/City and town/village level, and structured on a brigade, battalion, company, and platoon basis. The militia maintains infantry small arms, with some mortars, field guns and anti-aircraft guns and even modernized older equipment such as multiple rocket launchers like the BM-13 and older Ural D-62 motorcycles, although some units are unarmed indicating status as logistics and medical units.[4]

Its strength is estimated at 5 million personnel.[5]

See also

Other nations:

References
  1. "North Korean military takes oath of loyalty". www.enca.com. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  2. Scalapino, Robert A.; Lee, Chong-sik (1972). Communism in Korea: The society. University of California press. p. 948. ISBN 9780520022744.
  3. "Golden Jubilee of Worker-Peasant Red Guards Marked", KCNA, January 13, 2009
  4. Bermudez (2001), pg 4–5.
  5. Oh, Kongdan; Hassig, Ralph C. (2004). North Korea through the Looking Glass. Washington: Brookings Institution Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-8157-9820-0.
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