Vol. 1, No. 4 - April 2010

This photograph was taken on 24 March 1999 in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), northwest of the Noto Peninsula (i.e., Noto-hanto). It shows one of two North Korean infiltration vessels (e.g., “Mother Ships”) fleeing from Japan Maritime Safety Agency and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels and aircraft. (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)

Articles in this issue include,

"Noto-Hanto Infiltration, March 1999," by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.

During 23-25 March 1999, forces from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and Japan Maritime Safety Agency (JMSA) located, identified and chased from their territorial waters two North Korean infiltration vessels (a.k.a., "Mother Ship" or "Spy Ship") The precise objective and details of the mission these vessels were engaged in are unclear. Japanese defense officials believe that the most likely mission was to insert or retrieve an agent or agents. Although this infiltration operation displayed a number of unusual aspects it was probably a routine operation for the DPRK’s intelligence community. This article describes in detail the encounter and provides five color photographs and a map.

"P’okpoong (Storm) Main Battle Tank," by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.

Photographs and video released by North Korea during 2009 and 2010 provided the most detailed look to date of the nation’s latest main battle tank, popularly known as the M-2002 or P’okpoong (i.e., Storm). The vehicle has been previously reported as being a derivative of the Russian T-72. The imagery, however, shows that the hull is only conceptually based upon the T-72; and while similar to the Chinese Type-85 it is more likely to be a stretched and heavily modified version of the T-62. The turret appears to also be based upon that of a T-62 and the suspension utilizes T-62 components. This article provides ten color photographs and a provisional line drawing of the new tank.

"DPRK Intelligence Agencies, 1967-1971, Part 1," by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.

This is the first of three articles detailing the organization and operations of North korean intelligence during 1967-1971. The early 1960s were a time of significant civil turmoil and vulnerability within the Republic of Korea (i.e., South Korea) which witnessed large student uprisings force the resignation of the Syngman Rhee government during April 1960 and the subsequent coup d’etat by General Pak Chong-hui in May 1961. The failure of North korea to effectively exploit these vulnerabilities resulted in a decision to both reorganize and modernize the North Korean Army and those organizations involved in intelligence and anti-ROK operations. These intelligence organizations included the National Intelligence Committee, Korean Workers's Party's South Korea General Bureau, North Korean Army's Reconnaissance Bureau and Ministry of Public Security. The article includes an organizational chart.

Additional Material

Editor’s Notes and detailed Endnotes are also provided.


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