Page 1 of 1

KPA Unit 534

Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:24 am
by Philip S
Apparently North Korea still has horse cavalry:

http://kpablogger.tumblr.com/tagged/Unit-534

Re: KPA Unit 534

Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:54 pm
by Pat Holscher
Man, looking through that site I'm left with the impression that the North Korean military is such a museum piece that I have to wonder at what point either China or South Korea just kick it to the curb. Mig 17s?

It may be just me, but I really feel that North Korea has played out its string. My prediction is that the PRC will at some point will call for joint table exercises with the North Korean senior leadership, maybe down to the select colonel level, in Beijing. During that, they'll take them out to dinner one by one and find out which one is the most pliable over a few glasses of Tsingtoa. When that guy is found, I think that Kim Jong-un is likely to get an invite too, and then will be found to have had a tragic accident after a plate of General Tso's chicken, or something like that, if he doesn't agree to retire to a villa in Mongolia.

The deal will be that north can reunite with south, if the US departs the peninsula and reunited Korea takes the path Finland did so many decades ago. We'll agree and they'll agree.

Re: KPA Unit 534

Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:26 pm
by Couvi
Pat Holscher wrote:Man, looking through that site I'm left with the impression that the North Korean military is such a museum piece that I have to wonder at what point either China or South Korea just kick it to the curb. Mig 17s?

It may be just me, but I really feel that North Korea has played out its string. My prediction is that the PRC will at some point will call for joint table exercises with the North Korean senior leadership, maybe down to the select colonel level, in Beijing. During that, they'll take them out to dinner one by one and find out which one is the most pliable over a few glasses of Tsingtoa. When that guy is found, I think that Kim Jong-un is likely to get an invite too, and then will be found to have had a tragic accident after a plate of General Tso's chicken, or something like that, if he doesn't agree to retire to a villa in Mongolia.

The deal will be that north can reunite with south, if the US departs the peninsula and reunited Korea takes the path Finland did so many decades ago. We'll agree and they'll agree.
We can only hope.

Re: KPA Unit 534

Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:08 pm
by rayarthart
In 1985 I set up a field display for the reining Chinese Cavalry Chief at Ft. Knox, Ky. I got to meet this Cavalryman and noticed that he was all Cavalry even down to his boots. He spoke English and I enjoyed the conversation. He did let it slip that China did have Horse Cavalry and in a combat role. He also was amazed that the U.S. did not have Cavalry as Reconnissance as they did.

I think that Chinas may have infuleanced the North Korea in their Cavalry some. In the photos I didn't see any other equipment other than saddles and bridles and the Soldiers were wearing their duty uniforms. Any other thoughts on this?

Re: KPA Unit 534

Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:40 pm
by Pat Holscher
rayarthart wrote:In 1985 I set up a field display for the reining Chinese Cavalry Chief at Ft. Knox, Ky. I got to meet this Cavalryman and noticed that he was all Cavalry even down to his boots. He spoke English and I enjoyed the conversation. He did let it slip that China did have Horse Cavalry and in a combat role. He also was amazed that the U.S. did not have Cavalry as Reconnissance as they did.

I think that Chinas may have infuleanced the North Korea in their Cavalry some. In the photos I didn't see any other equipment other than saddles and bridles and the Soldiers were wearing their duty uniforms. Any other thoughts on this?
Chinese cavalry probably makes quite a bit of sense because its a huge country that has some fairly remote and primitive regions. Patrolling the Chinese border might well require it, or at least suggest it.

North Korea is a bit more difficult to figure. South Korea did field cavalry in 1950, but probably no longer did by 54 (just guessing). The North Korean Army in 1950 was based on the Soviet Army, which kept cavalry until 1953, but I've never heard of the North Koreans using it in that time period. That doesn't mean that they didn't have some, of course.

Today, the density of arms on the peninsula is so high cavalry would have no role in a war with the South, one of only two possible wars the North Koreans could end up in (I don't think it entirely impossible that their biggest problem at some point might not become the Chinese). The only real role I can think of for it would be some sort of policing or border patrol on its northern border.

Of course, North Korean is really a bizarre theme park and they might have a cavalry unit simply because the PRC does and the USSR did.

Re: KPA Unit 534

Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:33 am
by rayarthart
The way the PRC uses Horse Cavalry is scouting ahead of the heavy fighting forces. If you are in a defensive position, you will see them first.