North Korea’s 11th Corps, known as the “Storm Corps,” has dramatically extended its basic training period from six months to 15 months as part of an effort to strengthen its special warfare capabilities.
According to a military source recently, the extended training period began May 1 following a special order issued to the 11th Corps by the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Recruitment Bureau on April 27. The change stems from a decision by the KPA Party Committee to strengthen specialized military branches.
Recruits assigned to the 11th Corps through this spring’s draft will now undergo three months of basic training — covering discipline, internal regulations, formation drills, garrison rules, physical training, marching and shooting — followed by 12 months of specialized training focused on modern warfare and physical conditioning.
“Previously, recruits received three months of general training and three months of specialized training, but now the specialized training period has been greatly extended,” the source said. “The 11th Corps headquarters has distributed revised class schedules and new training manuals to reflect this change.”
This year’s training curriculum will retain guerrilla warfare education while adding new courses on concealment and cover techniques, drone marksmanship and counter-drone operations, all influenced by analysis of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The 11th Corps specializes in infiltrating enemy territory, assassinating key figures and conducting rear-area strikes.
The corps aims to develop special forces capable of quickly adapting to various terrains and combat environments while effectively responding to modern weapons. This initiative appears connected to leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to a special forces training base in early April, where he ordered improvements in operational capabilities.
However, the extended training period appears to be a pilot program limited to the 11th Corps rather than an army-wide measure. Some within the corps question whether the 15-month training system will continue next year.
“The KPA Recruitment Bureau and the Combat Training Bureau of the General Staff Department have not issued any orders about extending the training period or revising training subjects for other corps,” the source said. “Even within the 11th Corps, there’s uncertainty about whether this measure will continue next year.”
The North Korean military is expected to evaluate the effectiveness of the extended training period in enhancing special warfare capabilities for modern combat. Military insiders cautiously suggest this initiative could establish a model for modernizing special forces throughout the armed forces, the source added.
