History of Korea

There is a misconception that the Soviet Union supplied vast amounts of military weaponry before the war. Although the Soviets left many military hardware in North Korea used during World War II, most of these machines were outdated. This does not mean, however, that Soviet weapon were not useful because a great percentage of the weapons that North Korea used during the war were Soviet made.

The weapons that the north did obtain, they bought from the Soviets on interest loans. Thus, Soviet investment of military hardware into North Korea was economically profitable.

Even before the outbreak of the war, the North Korean military machine were looking ahead so that it was no surprise when they began manufacturing their own weapons. Below is a pitcure of Kim Il Sung passing out the first domestically produced machine guns to top military personal.

Liberation and the Korean War