🇰🇵 North Korea Military Strength 2026
North Korea ranks #8 of 180 in the ArmySimulator Power Index for 2026, making it one of the world's leading military powers. Its armed forces field 1,280,000 active personnel plus 600,000 in reserve. The defense budget stands at $1.6 billion (2018). North Korea is one of nine nuclear-armed states, with an estimated 60 warheads.
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Personnel & budget
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Active military personnel | 1,280,000 | #5 |
| Reserve personnel | 600,000 | |
| Paramilitary forces | 5,889,000 | |
| Defense budget (2018) | $1.6 billion | #68 |
| Budget share of GDP | — | |
| Population | 26.6M | |
Land forces
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Main battle tanks | 5,845 | #1 |
| Attack helicopters | 0 | |
Air power
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Combat aircraft | 572 | #7 |
| Military satellites | 0 | |
Naval forces
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 2 | |
| Corvettes | 5 | |
| Amphibious warfare ships | 10 | |
| Nuclear submarines | 0 | |
| Conventional submarines | 71 | |
| Fleet strength score | 171 | #6 |
Nuclear arsenal
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Total warheads (est.) | 60 | #9 |
| Deployed warheads | — | |
Head-to-head comparisons
Data years vary by indicator (latest available, 2023–2026). See methodology and sources.