Military ranks of North Korea

The Military ranks of North Korea are the military insignia used by the Korean People's Army. Due to the close military cooperation, North Korean ranks are inspired by the Soviet ranks system.^[1]

Special ranks

North Korean rank	North Korean insignia[2]
Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Korean: 대원수, romanized: Tae wonsu)[a]
Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Korean: 공화국원수, romanized: Konghwaguk Wonsu)[b]

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Korean People's Army Ground Force[3] v t e
	인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu	차수 Chasu	대장 Daejang		상장 Sangjang		중장 Chungjang		소장 Sojang		대좌 Daechwa	상좌 Sangjwa	중좌 Chungjwa		소좌 Sojwa		대위 Taewi		상위 Sangwi		중위 Chungwi		소위 Sowi
Korean People's Navy[3] v t e
인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu	차수 Chasu	대장 Daejang		상장 Sangjang		중장 Chungjang		소장 Sojang		대좌 Daechwa	상좌 Sangjwa	중좌 Chungjwa		소좌 Sojwa		대위 Taewi		상위 Sangwi		중위 Chungwi		소위 Sowi
Korean People's Army Air Force[3] v t e
	인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu	차수 Chasu	대장 Daejang		상장 Sangjang		중장 Chungjang		소장 Sojang		대좌 Daechwa	상좌 Sangjwa	중좌 Chungjwa		소좌 Sojwa		대위 Taewi		상위 Sangwi		중위 Chungwi		소위 Sowi
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Korean People's Army Ground Force[3] v t e
	특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa						상사 Sangsa		중사 Chungsa		하사 Hasa						상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa						중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa				하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa		전사 Chŏnsa
Korean People's Navy[3] v t e
	특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa						상사 Sangsa		중사 Chungsa		하사 Hasa						상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa						중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa				하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa		전사 Chŏnsa
Korean People's Army Air Force[3] v t e
	특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa						상사 Sangsa		중사 Chungsa		하사 Hasa						상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa						중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa				하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa		전사 Chŏnsa
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

See also

• Comparative military ranks of Korea
• Military ranks of South Korea

Notes

1. Highest possible political-military rank of North Korea and is intended to be an honorific title for the nation’s Great Leaders.
2. Highest political-military rank reserved only for Supreme Leader of North Korea.

References

1. Keegan, John (1979). "North Korea". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 409. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
2. Tertitskiy, Fyodor (14 March 2017). "North Korea's baffling personalized rank insignia, explained". NK News. Korea Risk Group. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
3. Minnich, James M. (2008). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L. (ed.). North Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 266, 268. LCCN 2008028547. Retrieved 20 October 2021.

External links

• "Korea (North – Democratic People's Republic)". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 2 July 2022.^{[permanent dead link]}