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Worker-Peasant Red Guards - Wikipedia

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Worker-Peasant Red Guards
로농적위군

Emblem of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards

FoundedJanuary 1959; 66 years ago
Country North Korea
AllegianceKim Jong Un[1]
TypeParamilitary militia
Role
  • Civil Defense
  • Defensive Operations
  • Assistance in maintaining public order
Size5 million personnel
ColorsFront:

Back:
Regimental standard


Banner used by militia units

Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl

로농적위군

Hancha

勞農赤衛軍

Revised RomanizationRonongjeogwigun
McCune–ReischauerRonongjŏgwigun

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 as the largest civil defense force in North Korea.

The name ‘Worker-Peasant Red Guards’ first appeared at the military parade commemorating the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Party on October 10, 2010, and thereafter North Korea began calling it the ‘Worker-Peasant Red Guards’.[3]

The militia is organized on a provincial/city/town/village level, and structured on a brigade, battalion, company, and platoon basis. Its strength is estimated at 5 million personnel.[4]

It is not only under State Affairs Commission (until 2016 National Defence Commission) and Ministry of Defence control, but is also attached to the Workers' Party of Korea under its Military Leadership Department.

It is thus responsible to the Supreme Leader in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The organization was established In order to make up for the shortage of troops as the Chinese troops that participated in the Korean War withdrew in April 1958.

North Korea disbanded the Self-Defense Forces, previously under the command of the Ministry of Social Security, and on 14 January, 1959.

The organization was formally established with workers, farmers, intellectuals, and students joining it, and had a force of 500,000 people.[5][6]

At first, they were required to receive military training while working for a living. But in 1962, in accordance with the policy of arming the entire population, the organization was expanded to include men aged 18 to 45 and single women aged 18 to 35.

In 1971, the applicable age for the Workers' and Peasants' Red Guards was extended to 50 years old, and all men and single women aged 17 to 60 who were not transferred to the prison guards were targeted for formation, and it continues to this day.

They were also widely mobilized to help with reconstruction projects following the mass destruction that occurred during the Korean War.

The militia uses mostly small arms phased out from frontline service, while access to advanced equipment is limited.[7]

Name Origin Type Notes
PPSh-41[7]  Soviet Union Submachine gun Produced locally as the Type 49. The Chinese Type 50 is also used.[8]
Mosin-Nagant[7] Bolt-action rifle Chinese copies are also used.[9]
Type 58  North Korea Assault rifle North Korean copy of the AK-47.[10] Used by militias and support troops.[11]
Type 63 Semi-automatic rifle North Korean copy of the SKS.[9]
Type 73 Light machine gun Reportedly used.[9]
Bulsae-3 Anti-tank guided missile Seen at a military parade in 2021.[7]

Besides small arms, the Worker-Peasant Red Guards also maintains heavier weapons such as mortars, anti-aircraft guns,[12] and some obsolete vehicles such as T-34 tanks and SU-100 tank destroyers.[7]

They use older Ural D-62 motorcycles, although some units are unarmed indicating status as logistics and medical units.[13]

During a parade in September 2023 elements of the force paraded in what appeared to be truck mounted 122mm rockets tubes disguised as civilian vehicles.[14]

  • Worker-Peasant Red Guards at the Samjiyon Grand Monument (삼지연대기념비).

    Worker-Peasant Red Guards at the Samjiyon Grand Monument (삼지연대기념비).

  • Worker-Peasant Red Guards at the 2023 September military parade

    Worker-Peasant Red Guards at the 2023 September military parade

Other nations:

  1. ^ "North Korean military takes oath of loyalty". www.enca.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  2. ^ Scalapino, Robert A.; Lee, Chong-sik (1972). Communism in Korea: The society. University of California press. p. 948. ISBN 9780520022744.
  3. ^ Benjamin R. Young (17 September 2021). "Guns in one hand: Kim Jong Un's revitalization of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards". NK News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  4. ^ Oh, Kongdan; Hassig, Ralph C. (2004). North Korea through the Looking Glass. Washington: Brookings Institution Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-8157-9820-0.
  5. ^ "労農赤衛軍" (in Japanese). Uriminzokkiri. 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Golden Jubilee of Worker-Peasant Red Guards Marked", KCNA, 13 January 2009
  7. ^ a b c d e Newdick, Thomas (9 September 2021). "North Korea Trades Missiles For Militias At Its Latest Parade". The War Zone. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  8. ^ US Department of Defense 1997, p. A−79.
  9. ^ a b c Shea, Dan; Hong, Heebum (1 June 2012). "NORTH KOREAN SMALL ARMS (DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA)". Small Arms Review. Chipotle Publishing. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  10. ^ US Department of Defense 1997, p. A−75.
  11. ^ Hogg 1987, p. 180.
  12. ^ US Department of Defense 1997, p. 34.
  13. ^ Bermudez (2001), pg 4–5.
  14. ^ Payne, Stetson; Rogoway, Tyler (9 September 2023). "North Korea Debuts Rocket Launchers That Appear As Civilian Trucks". The Drive. Retrieved 10 September 2023.