ities, while building up cyberwarfare capabilities through the expansion of trained manpower and organizational reinforcement. With about 70% of the Ground Force positioned south of the Pyongyang-Wonsan line, North Korea maintains a readiness posture capable of carrying out a surprise attack on the South at any time. The forward-deployed 170mm self-propelled guns and 240mm MRLs, for instance, provide North Korea with the means for massive, concentrated surprise fire on the greater Seoul metropolitan area. The recently-developed 300mm MRLs are capable of reaching the middle part of ROK. North Korea has reinforced its artillery forces, including the 122mm towed MRLs, in coastal areas north of the NLL in the West Sea and frontline areas. Mechanized units, warships, aircraft and special force units have been deployed forward in a move to strengthen its provocation and attack capability in the five Northwest Islands and surrounding regions and in frontline areas. North Korea is also improving its operational capabilities through equipment modernization, with its armored and mechanized units now being equipped with Chonma-ho and Songun-ho main battle tanks. North Korea’s special operations force is currently estimated to be 200,000-strong. The special operations units are strategic, operational and tactical units composed of diverse elements such as the 11th Corps, light infantry divisions and brigades and sniper brigades of the Forward Corps, sniper brigades belonging to the Navy, and the Air and Anti-Air Force. In wartime, special operations units are likely to infiltrate both the forward and rear areas through underground tunnels and the DMZ or with the help of other means of infiltration, such as submarines, landing craft air cushions (LCACs), AN-2 aircraft and helicopters, to conduct hybrid operations by attacking vital units, facilities and installations, assassinating key figures, and disrupting rear areas. The key assets of the North Korean Ground Force are as shown in <Chart 1-4> below: <Chart 1-4> Key Assets of the north Korean Ground force Tanks Approx. 4,300 Armored Vehicles Approx. 2,500 Cannons Approx. 8,600 MRLs Approx. 5,500 300mm MRLs Approx. 10 39) a system supporting decision-making and strike orders by the commander (GS-2000). Section 3 North Korean Situation and Military threats 29 Chapter 1 Bureau among others, has implemented an integrated tactical command and control system39) to strengthen C4I (Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence) capabil-