Vol. 1, No. 1 - January 2010
The North Korean “Mother Ship” which was sunk on 21 December 2001 by the Japan Coast Guard being salvaged in September 2007. (Japan Coast Guard)
Articles in this issue include,
Welcome to KPA Journal
Hello and welcome to the inaugural issue of KPA Journal. The goals of this modest publication are to allow me to freely share with readers new, interesting or updated information concerning: all aspects of the Korean People's Army (KPA, more commonly known as the North Korean Army) from its birth until present; ballistic missile development; intelligence operations (e.g., seaborne infiltration operations, etc.); and other defense and intelligence issues concerning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, more commonly known as North Korea).
"Salvage of a DPRK 'Mother Ship'," by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
On 22 December 2001 Japan Coast Guard (JCG) vessels identified and pursued an unidentified vessel in the East China Sea. The vessel was believed to be a intelligence agent “mother ship” ("Mother Ship" or "Spy Ship") from North Korea involved in either narcotics trafficking or the insertion/recovery of intelligence agents. After a ten-hour chase, which at times exceeded 35+ knots and witnessed gunfire from both sides, the unidentified vessel was suddenly racked by an explosion and sunk in 200 meters of water. The article covers the slavage operations by the Japan Coast Guard and includes color photographs of the recovered vessel.
"KPA Engineer River Crossing Units During the Fatherland Liberation War, Part 1" by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
This is Part 1 of a three part series concerning the development of specialized bridging and river crossing engineer capabilities within the North Korean Army prior to the Korean War (a.k.a., Fatherland Liberation War). It covers the Establishment of the General Staff Department's Engineer Bureau, 1st Engineer Regiment and the 2nd Engineer Regiment. The article also briefly discusses the movements of the Engineer Bureau during the war.