The North Korean Type 73 GPMG has been previously documented in Iraq, Yemen and Syria and recently observed in Ukraine with the Russian army.
Russian forces have reportedly begun using North Korean Type 73 machine guns, according to multiple photos circulating on Russian social media. The images depict Russian soldiers equipped with North Korean-made weapons.
The Type 73 machine gun, adopted by the North Korean military in 1973, merges design features from the Soviet PK machine gun and the Czechoslovak Vz. 52. This unique combination of elements also visually resembles the well-known British Bren gun.
The weapon has seen action in numerous conflicts in the Middle East and remains part of the arsenal for North Korean armed forces.
The emergence of the Type 73 among Russian troops raises questions about potential arms deals or exchanges between Russia and North Korea. This development could indicate efforts by Russia to diversify its arms supplies amid international sanctions that limit its access to certain military resources.
The deployment of North Korean weapons may also reflect logistical constraints faced by Russian forces, leading them to procure alternative military supplies. Experts suggest that the Type 73, while somewhat dated, still holds operational value in certain scenarios, particularly due to its adaptability and robust design.
The Type 73 is a rotary-locked, gas-operated general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62 x 54R mm cartridge. It weighs in at 10.6 kilograms and is 1190 mm in length. It is commonly fed from either non-disintegrating belts (typically 100 or 250 rounds, although troops in combat sometimes shorten these or use irregular lengths) or 30-round removable box magazines. The Type 73 is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a ‘light machine gun’.
The common denominator linking the relatively rare Type 73 GPMG presence in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen is likely to be support from Iran. Iran received the Type 73 GPMG from North Korea, likely during the late 1970s to mid-1980s, and employed these weapons during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War. Iran has continued to employ the Type 73 GPMG in a reserve role in recent years, issued to the paramilitary Basij forces and observed during exercises in the past decade.
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