Pro-Government Militias
Worker-Peasant Red Guards (WPRG) (Korea North)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 510 |
| Country: | Korea North |
| Date formed: | Jan. 14, 1959 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The leader and founder of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung, established the self-defensive Worker-Peasant Red Guards in 1959. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | PGM still exists by the end of 2014. |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | person/minister |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; military |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | workers; peasants |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Nationwide |
| Force Strength: | [5700000, 7000000] |
| Target(s): | foreign military |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; protect national borders and integrity; self-defense and security |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | This group is a self-defense force that was launched by Kim Il-Sung in 1959. The WPRG is closely connected to the military (often attends military parades) and in case of war, it is supposed to defend North Korea. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The main goal of the group was to assist with military tasks related to internal and sometimes external security and to secure the power of the regime. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members mainly consisted of workers and peasants and according to a source included every citizen from the ages of 18 to 55. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The group received military training and was in possession of a range of weapons, including heavy weaponry such as anti-aircraft missiles and artillery, as well as firearms. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group was linked to the Ministry of Public Security and commanded by the Korean People’s Army General Staff. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.