Russians Start Using North Korean Type 73 Machine Guns

Russian troops have started using North Korean Type 73 7.62x54Rmm machine guns.

The relevant photos were published by the Russian propaganda Telegram channel Voevoda Vesti.

It is worth noting that the use of North Korean small arms by Russian troops was noticed for the first time.

The Type 73 machine guns are likely intended to supply the North Korean contingent recently deployed in the combat zone.

In addition, the use of such “exotic” weapons may be due to Russian infantrymen becoming familiar with the weaponry of their “neighbors.”

At the same time, as reported by the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate, the DPRK troops are armed with Soviet- and Russian-made assault rifles and machine guns.

Type 73s are likely to be part of one of the agreements between the DPRK and Russia, under which the latter was obliged to purchase North Korean weapons.

Otherwise, it is unclear why the Russian Federation, which independently produces 6P41 Pecheneg machine guns (PKP) and has huge stocks of Soviet-era PKM and PK, would want North Korean Type 73s.

Type 73

The Type 73 is a North Korean 7.62x54Rmm infantry machine gun that can be called a hybrid of the Soviet PK and Czechoslovakian VZ. 52. Visually, the Type 73 is a mixture of these machine guns with a touch of the British Bren.

The date of development and production of the machine gun remains unknown, however, given the approximate date of production of the PK and VZ. 52, it can be assumed that the Type 73 was developed in the 60s and 70s.

The Type 73 was distributed far beyond the Korean peninsula and was seen during the Iran-Iraq wars, and later with various groups in the Middle East, including ISIS and the Houthis in Yemen.

The machine guns have also been shipped to Africa, and it is known that in 2017 the French Navy seized a smuggled shipment of Type 73s bound for Somalia.

In addition to its origin, the machine gun is also unusual because it uses a very rare 7.62x54R cartridge, which is not used in other infantry weapons available in the DPRK.

The machine gun weighs 10.6 kilograms and is 1190 millimeters long. As of today, the Type 73 is being replaced by the Type 82 in the North Korean troops.