Military parades, held in Pyongyang on special occasions, are one of the few reliable sources of information about the Korean People's Army (KNA) and her ongoing transformation under Kim Jong-un.
KPA says goodbye to its old weapons systems, which were hallmarks of the Kim Jong Il era - T-55 medium tanks and agricultural tractors come to mind - and showcasing new dangerous opportunities. However, some of them are confusing
– celebrated abroad, paying attention to the infantry order, armed with a massive rifle with an attached PG-7 grenade.
As indicated in the 21AAR edition, this ammunition is intended for the Soviet RPG-7 grenade launcher, when fired from which a backward wave is formed with a length of up to 20 m. A rear cone is used to move it away from the operator.. At the same time, in the new North Korean product, a fixed butt and an optical sight are installed instead..
The strange grenade launcher is confusing. How can he shoot, without injuring a soldier?
– asked a question in the publication.
The assumption is made, that the new product from the DPRK “is a serious attempt to create anti-tank weapons, which can be used indoors and at very close range, up to one hundred meters ". In this case, the PG-7 ammunition may contain a non-standard low-speed charge., effective within one hundred meters, which puts it closer to a sub-caliber grenade, than an anti-tank missile.
As noted in 21AAR, in recent years, various manufacturers have tried to combine short-range 40mm grenades with precision guidance. So, South Korean LIG Nex1 has developed an ammunition with a range of up to 2000 m, Turkish Roketsan - to 1000 m. However, the publication believes, that the PG-7 cannot compare with "smart" ammunition.
Author:Evgeny Lyushilin
