So far, the tanks have appeared in a military parade in North Korea. Where they are?

From our perspective, North Korea is seen as a country that is very backward technologically, economically, and politically. Given the isolation the country has been experiencing since the Korean War, this is not a mistake. And a society under pressure and controlled by a controlled information field is certainly not rich. Yet at the same time, it is a country where intercontinental missiles are being developed and tested. Of course, with the help of friends.

The arsenal of North Korean ground forces also includes weapons reminiscent of WWII, including Soviet T-34 tanks. They were last seen in testing was a few years ago, but now they will likely be discarded along with some other old weapons because, as seen in the last parade, the North Korean military has made a significant recovery.

Digital camo uniforms (small square pattern camo), bulletproof vests, composite helmets and much more. These are modern military forces, although not as advanced as those of states that North Korea considers hostile.

You will notice many new weapons in that parade. One of the most interesting pieces of military equipment in appearance is the new main battle tanks (approximately 1:53:09). So far, the country has relied on Pokpung-ho’s main battle tank, based on the T-62 and T-72. That tank has been in service since 2002. But what we saw in the parade is not that tank.

Pokpung-ho looks completely different from this. The Pokpung-ho basically features the silhouette of the old T-72, and this is something between the American Abrams and the Russian T-14 Armata. More specifically, the tower of the new North Korean tank has sloped armor plates that effectively cover the tower mechanism and close that weak point between the tank’s hull and the tower, a detail reminiscent of American tanks.

Meanwhile, the chassis is more reminiscent of the Russian T-14. Pokpung-ho has six big wheels and the new tank has seven. They are hidden under armor faster to remove.

The tank itself seems bigger. The center driver position is fully closed, suggesting that cameras and displays are used to monitor the tank. The main gun appears to be 115 or 125mm, which is also used by Pokpung-ho. Unlike the Armata, the new North Korean tank has an extractor hood, which is necessary because there are soldiers in the tower.

Of course, North Korea does not publish data on its new military equipment. However, you can guess that the visible modernization of the military in North Korea is not just a support. And guessing what is helping this country makes no sense.

Nor should you compare tanks when we don’t know anything about North Korean technique. But the tanks themselves are getting more and more criticism, aren’t they just unnecessary targets on the modern battlefield? Large countries are increasingly turning to military robots, which could be smaller than traditional tanks, facilitate logistics and help avoid unnecessary human casualties. On the other hand, the era of tanks has not yet passed and South Korea’s K2 Black Panther, operating since 2014, is almost guaranteed and is now the most modern tank on the peninsula.