{"title":"Stijn Mitzer","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"the-armed-forces-of-north-korea-book-stijn-mitzer-9781910777145","title":"The The Armed Forces of North Korea","description":"The Armed Forces of North Korea: On the Path of Songun seeks to bring order and coherence to the chaotic state of affairs in the intelligence community of North Korea-watchers, as well as to disprove the much-echoed stance that there is little to fear from the DPRK by providing information on a plethora of never-before described weapons systems and modernization programs.The Armed Forces of North Korea maps the most important events from the inconclusive ceasefire struck at the end of the Korean War, throughout the Cold War until modern day, and an especially heavy emphasis is placed on the current status of the Korean People's Army by examining their wealth of indigenously designed weaponry. In the course of the book not only will many of the Korean People's Army's most secret projects and tactics be unveiled, but also new light will be shed on the deadly flare-ups between the North and the South, and novel evidence on tragic incidents such as the Cheonan sinking and Yeongpyeong bombing of 2010 is brought forth. Moreover, an up-to-date, comprehensive listing of the equipment holdings of several branches of the Korean People's Army is included, offering a numerical assessment of its naval and aerial capabilities. From the recently introduced stealth missile boats, ballistic missile submarines and main battle tank families to their often-ignored indigenous aircraft industry, virtually all indigenous weapons systems are discussed extensively.This exclusive content is illustrated by over forty detailed color artworks and various maps put together through exhaustive research and analysis, as well as around 170 unique images, many of which have never before been seen by the general public. Through scrutiny of satellite footage, the observation of North Korean propaganda outlets and by carefully examining information from the United States Department of Defense, the DPRK's advances in each of the Korean People's Army's respective branches are uncovered. Nearly all of the 'hermit kingdom's' military exploits are included and an accurate picture of the North's capabilities in both symmetrical and asymmetrical warfare is provided. This book was written specifically for anyone interested in North Korea's military capabilities or looking to find answers to many questions raised by the minefield of contradictory statements and misinformation that make up current intelligence about this reclusive nation.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50312806105361,"sku":"CIN1910777145G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1910777145.jpg?v=1751631612"},{"product_id":"armed-forces-of-north-korea-volume-1-part-1-book-stijn-mitzer-9781915070623","title":"The Armed Forces of North Korea Volume 1 Part 1","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"...examines the Korean People's Army Ground Forces' organisation and strategy, along with the infantry arm, and their often unique fleet of armoured personnel carriers and fire support vehicles.\" - Armorama\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e For much of its existence, North Korea and its armed forces have been shrouded in mystery. Separating fact from fiction was all but impossible, and for lack of better information, the DPRK's military was often trivialised as little more than a clone of the Soviet model. The Armed Forces of North Korea sets out to lift the veil of secrecy and conduct a thorough examination of Pyongyang's unique military machine, with this revised volume looking in depth at their organisation, strategy and infantry forces.With both its past and present a mystery, there exists little reliable information on one of the most exotic armed forces in the world today. Having essentially run aground its entire economy for the twin purposes of Juche (self-reliance) and Songun (military first), the DPRK today fields a uniquely diverse inventory of indigenous weaponry, and adheres to a military doctrine unlike any other. This highly unconventional situation is simultaneously one of the most precarious in the world, with the possibility of conflict ever looming on the horizon.To many, North Korea has become synonymous with the threat of nuclear war, having seen ballistic missiles soar and the ground tremble under a succession of escalating strategic weapons tests. The international focus on this topic has resulted in an imbalance of information, where its equally significant and numerically vast conventional forces are typically ignored. More than just posing a threat in its immense proportions however, the KPA remains a force to reckoned with due to a continuing drive for modernisation, that though struggling under the pressure of a defunct economy appears to be serious in scope and realism. Any assessment of its abilities that omits such developments is invariably inaccurate, and with literature sparse and available sources often disseminating misinformation more than anything else, there is no definitive framework for placing new information about the KPA's ground forces in its proper context.Originally published as part of The Armed Forces of North Korea: On The Path Of Songun, the contents have been revised and updated for the Asia@ War series. Volume 1, Part 1, examines the Korean People's Army Ground Forces' organisation and strategy, along with the infantry arm, and their often unique fleet of armoured personnel carriers and fire support vehicles.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51201592951057,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51201594687761,"sku":"NGR9781915070623","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52436052017425,"sku":"NIN9781915070623","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1915070627.jpg?v=1766142565"},{"product_id":"armed-forces-of-north-korea-volume-1-part-2-book-stijn-mitzer-9781804519660","title":"The Armed Forces of North Korea Volume 1 Part 2","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"...an excellent place to start for information about the history of the North Korean armed forces and especially infantry weapons and some armored vehicles.\" - Historical Miniatures Gaming Society\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e With both its past and present a mystery, there exists little reliable information on one of the most exotic armed forces in the world today. Having essentially run aground its entire economy for the twin purposes of Juche (self-reliance) and Songun (military first), the DPRK today fields a uniquely diverse inventory of indigenous weaponry, and adheres to a military doctrine unlike any other. This highly unconventional situation is simultaneously one of the most precarious in the world, with the possibility of conflict ever looming on the horizon.To many, North Korea has become synonymous with the threat of nuclear war, having seen ballistic missiles soar and the ground tremble under a succession of escalating strategic weapons tests. The international focus on this topic has resulted in an imbalance of information, where its equally significant and numerically vast conventional forces are typically ignored. More than just posing a threat in its immense proportions however, the KPA remains a force to reckoned with due to a continuing drive for modernisation, that though struggling under the pressure of a defunct economy appears to be serious in scope and realism. Any assessment of its abilities that omits such developments is invariably inaccurate, and with literature sparse and available sources often disseminating misinformation more than anything else, there is no definitive framework for placing new information about the KPA's ground forces in its proper context.Originally published as part of The Armed Forces of North Korea: On The Path Of Songun, the contents have been revised and updated for the Asia@ War series. Volume 1, Part 2, examines the Korean People's Army Ground Forces' tanks, artillery, military engineering and mobile air defence systems.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":52708006461713,"sku":"NGR9781804519660","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":53394335957265,"sku":"NIN9781804519660","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781804519660.jpg?v=1762781889"},{"product_id":"armed-forces-of-north-korea-volume-2-book-stijn-mitzer-9781806720309","title":"The Armed Forces of North Korea Volume 2","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"...offers a detailed examination of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force, providing essential insight into one of the most enigmatic and consequential military organisations in the world today.\" - Aeroscale\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Long dismissed as obsolete and overshadowed by the DPRK's nuclear and missile programmes, the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force (KPAAF) remains one of the least understood--and most frequently mischaracterised--air forces in the world. Operating under severe economic constraints and international sanctions, North Korea has nevertheless sustained a vast, complex and evolving air and air-defence system that continues to play a central role in its military doctrine.This volume provides the most detailed and up-to-date examination available of North Korea's air power. It traces the historical development of the KPAAF from its origins in the Korean War through the Cold War and post-Soviet period, before analysing its current organisation, doctrine and operational concepts. The book examines the full breadth of the air force's capabilities, including fighter, ground-attack and bomber aviation; transport and helicopter forces; airbase infrastructure and underground facilities; training and readiness; and the integration of fixed and mobile air-defence systems.Particular attention is paid to the KPAAF's aircraft inventory--much of it based on ageing Soviet and Chinese designs--and the extensive modification, upgrade and life-extension programmes that have kept these platforms operational far beyond their expected service lives. The book also explores North Korea's indigenous aircraft industry, its production of armament and electronics, and its increasingly ambitious unmanned aerial vehicle and loitering munition programmes, which represent some of the most dynamic developments in recent years.Richly illustrated with rare photographs, colour profiles and original maps, this study places North Korean air power in its proper strategic and operational context, cutting through decades of speculation and misinformation. It demonstrates why the KPAAF, despite its limitations, cannot be dismissed--and why any serious assessment of military power on the Korean Peninsula must take its capabilities into account.Originally published as part of \u003ci\u003eThe Armed Forces of North Korea: On the Path of Songun\u003c\/i\u003e, this revised and expanded edition appears in the Asia@War series as Volume 2: \u003ci\u003eThe Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force\u003c\/i\u003e.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":53075062489361,"sku":"NGR9781806720309","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":53558401237265,"sku":"NIN9781806720309","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781806720309.jpg?v=1769692560"},{"product_id":"armed-forces-of-north-korea-volume-3-book-stijn-mitzer-9781806722181","title":"The Armed Forces of North Korea Volume 3","description":"A comprehensive analysis of North Korea's navy, revealing its organization, capabilities, history, and strategic role. Shrouded in secrecy and distorted by decades of propaganda, the naval arm of the Korean People's Army remains one of the least understood components of the DPRK's military power. Overshadowed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, the Korean People's Army Navy (KPAN) is often dismissed as obsolete or strategically irrelevant. This volume challenges that assumption. Drawing on a wide range of open-source intelligence, imagery analysis, and comparative naval assessment, The Armed Forces of North Korea Volume 3 provides a detailed and systematic examination of the organisation, doctrine, equipment, and operational role of the KPAN. It traces the historical development of North Korea's naval forces, explains their command structure and deployment across the East and West Sea fleets, and analyses how geography, technology, and ideology have shaped their missions and limitations. The book examines the full spectrum of North Korean naval capabilities, including coastal defence forces, fast attack craft, midget and conventional submarines, amphibious and infiltration units, naval aviation, and special operations elements. Particular attention is paid to the navy's role within the DPRK's wider warfighting concept, including infiltration operations, asymmetric maritime warfare, and coordination with ground and missile forces in a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Rather than treating the KPAN as a relic of the Cold War, this study places recent modernisation efforts, shipbuilding programmes, and evolving operational concepts in their proper strategic context. It shows how, despite severe economic constraints, North Korea continues to maintain a maritime force designed to exploit regional geography, overwhelm defences through numbers and surprise, and complicate any allied response in the opening phases of war. Originally published as part of The Armed Forces of North Korea: On the Path of Songun, this revised and updated edition has been expanded for the Asia@War series. It provides readers with a clear, structured, and realistic understanding of one of the most opaque naval forces in the world-and an essential corrective to simplistic assessments of North Korea's conventional military power.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53364173832465,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":53364174029073,"sku":"NGR9781806722181","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781806722181.jpg?v=1775044119"},{"product_id":"armed-forces-of-north-korea-volume-4-book-stijn-mitzer-9781806722808","title":"Armed Forces of North Korea Volume 4","description":"Modernity has lifted the obsessive veil of secrecy in military innovation in all but one country: North Korea. With both its past and present a mystery, there exists little reliable information on one of the most exotic armed forces in the world today. Having essentially run aground its entire economy for the twin purposes of Juche (self-reliance) and Songun (military first), the DPRK today fields a uniquely diverse inventory of indigenous weaponry, and adheres to a military doctrine unlike any other. This highly unconventional situation is simultaneously one of the most precarious in the world, with the possibility of conflict ever looming on the horizon. To many, North Korea has become synonymous with the threat of nuclear war, having seen ballistic missiles soar and the ground tremble under a succession of escalating strategic weapons tests. The international focus on this topic has resulted in an imbalance of information, where its equally significant and numerically vast conventional forces are typically ignored. More than just posing a threat in its immense proportions however, the KPA remains a force to be reckoned with due to a continuing drive for modernisation, that though struggling under the pressure of a defunct economy appears to be serious in scope and realism. Any assessment of its abilities that omits such developments is invariably inaccurate, and with literature sparse and available sources often disseminating misinformation more than anything else, there is no definitive framework for placing new information about the KPA's Special Operations Force and Missile General Bureau in its proper context. This book aims to provide precisely such a framework by setting out its history in detail and mapping pretty much all there is to know about the DPRK's current military endeavours. This comprehensive information is accompanied by well over 170 unique images, most of which have never been seen by the general public. Furthermore, a number of high quality artworks provide a better look at those armaments that have managed to evade getting caught on camera, or that deserve being highlighted in perfect detail. This work is the fourth and final volume in a small series on North Korea's elusive military, giving both the casual reader as well as those with a professional interest a complete overview of even the most secretive aspects of a military that is unlike any other. Originally published as part of The Armed Forces of North Korea: On The Path Of Songun, the contents have been revised and updated for the Asia@ War series.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53371521433873,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":53371521696017,"sku":"NGR9781806722808","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781806722808.jpg?v=1775157618"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-gb\/collections\/author-books-by-stijn-mitzer.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}