The bulk of the Korean People’s Army Air Force’s inventory consists of poorly maintained antiquated aircraft (Mig 17s, Mig 19s or Chinese variants thereof) that would not last long against either American or South Korean adversaries in the event of a conflict

However, the latest issue of the KPA Journal (PDF) gives details on the MiG 29 Fulcrum, the KPA’s most modern aircraft.

The primary base for the MiG 29 is at Sunchon, one of the North Korean bases that include underground airfields, where they are assigned to the 55th Kumsong Guard Air Regiment.  The 55th also flies Su 25K ground attack aircraft.

An American intelligence aircraft operating off the coast of North Korea had a close encounter with a couple of North Korean MiG 29s on March 2, 2003.  The two aircraft intercepted the American plane and one pilot gave a hand signal for the spy plane to follow him into North Korean territory, presumably to land in North Korea and be captured.  The American plane turned back instead and the MiGs left before scrambled American F 15s could arrive on the scene.

One of the two KPAF MiG-29s that intercepted a USAF RC-135S surveillance aircraft on March 2, 2003. The image was captured from a video taken by one of the crew members abroad the RC-135S. (USAF photo)

The article goes into some detail about the Korean plane’s production and maintenance history, including this telling paragraph (see KPA Journal link):

It is currently estimated that the KPAF has an inventory of Approximately 30 MiG 29B/UB FULCRUM A/B aircraft, however, no more than 12 have ever been seen at once on commercial satellite imagery.  It should be noted that as export models there aircraft are significantly less capable than their Russian counterparts.

So perhaps North Korea’s best fighters are only a little less junky than the rest of their airfleet.

The issue of the KPA Journal also includes personnel changes in North Korea’s security apperatus following the Fourth Session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly and brief accounts of the lessons the KPA learned from American-led air campaigns during Desert Storm in 1991 and operations against Yugoslavia in 1999.

After checking out that issue, you may want to check out some previous issues of the KPA Journal.