For more than fifty years, the combined armed forces of the United States and the Republic of Korea have courageously shed sweat and blood in their tireless deterrence of the world's third largest army--the North Korean People's Army. Despite this half century stand-off, along the world's most militarized stretch of land known as the demilitarized zone, much remains unknown about this ruthless foe. James M. Minnich masterfully blends academic knowledge with nearly twenty-five years of military experience to explain the NKPA's origins, military ideology, strategy, combat formations, and tactics to ensure that no coalition combatant has to fight the NKPA without a full understanding of this ruthless, reclusive belligerent.


At the outset, Minnich examines the initial, crucial years of the formation of the North Korean state and its army. Inaugurated in February 1948, the NKPA burgeoned from the experiences of its partisan roots, from direct Soviet tutelage, and from Chinese Communist influences. Solidly grounded in primary sources and buttressed by the judicial use of secondary sources, Minnich traces the forging elements of these three groups--Korean partisans, Soviet Army, and Chinese Communists upon the NKPA. Each group uniquely contributed to the cauldron that forged the leadership, combat formations, combat equipment, and training that prepared an army to mount a surprise attack that triggered the first shooting conflict of the Cold War; the Forgotten War that nearly ignited World War III.


Later, Minnich draws the parallel between the original three influences on the NKPA and its current military ideology, strategy, combat formations, and tactics. For over fifty years the NKPA has dramatically increased in size and capability, yet remains true to its initial precepts. Drawing heavily upon military education at the Republic of Korea Army College, Minnich conducts a detailed examination of the NKPA's current military tactics,! including its seven forms of offensive maneuver, two forms of defense, and tactical artillery groupings tactics. This book is a must read for students of Korean history and those seeking a deeper understanding of the NKPA, but unequivocally it is required reading for every one of the 600,000 United States Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and military planners who must remain prepared to rapidly deploy to Korea then close with and destroy this most dangerous of enemies.