N. Korea Unveils Dramatically Upgraded Battle Tank
By wchung | 25 Apr, 2025

North Korea appears to have unveiled a previously unseen battle tank, according to the South’s intelligence analysis of recent news footage shown on state TV.

Dubbed the Pokpung (“Storm”) the tank is believed to be a dramatically improved version of the Chonma (“Flying Horse”) which in turn is based on the old Soviet T-62 tank. Pokpung is thought to have been first introduced in 2002 but remained undocumented until recently.

A South Korean military source on Monday said the Pokpung appears to be an improved version of the North Korean Army’s previous model “Chonma” (Flying Horse) in terms of firepower and maneuverability.

The Pokpung is equipped with a 125 mm or 115 mm gun and has substantially better speed and maneuverability than the Chonma, according to the latest issue of Defense Science & Technology Information published by the Defense Ministry. It is also believed to be armed with a 14.5 mm KPV anti-aircraft machine gun that is significantly more powerful than the 12.7 mm machine gun used on older tanks. A laser range finder and an infrared searchlight is thought to give the Pokpung better accuracy.

The Pokpung was built at the Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory following development in the 1990s, according to the journal. The tanks are believed to be deployed in small numbers in an elite tank unit. The North Korean Army has a numerical advantage in tanks with 3,900 as against the South’s 2,300. However, the North’s tanks are considered to be mostly inferior in performance.