Major Characteristics of Different Types of Ships

China's Politico-Military Doctrines

China's Internal & Border Problems

China  Military Spending Exercise

"Armed Forces: Royal Nepal Army, of about 35,000 volunteers. Enlistment for initial period of ten years; former Gurkhas for three years. Primary mission to back up local police and maintain security in Kathmandu Valley--the seat of government. No personnel mobilization plan in event of war or declared national emergency; no
contingency plan to draft during or in anticipation of emergency. 

Military Units and Equipment: Fourteen infantry brigades in Royal Nepal Army; one air wing in Royal Nepal Army Air Service. Shortages of virtually all categories of weapons and equipment. Obsolete weapons in inventory. 

Military Budget: In 1989 US$33 million, or approximately 1.2 percent of GNP and 6.2 percent of total central government expenditures. 

Foreign Military Relation: Royal Nepal Army personnel serve in United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon; Gurkhas also serve in British Brigade of Gurkhas, in Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and Brunei. "

Source:  Library of Congress on Nepal

For years the Army basically guarded the palace, marched in parades, and put down labor strife or other domestic disturbances.  In times of natural disasters such as flooding, cyclones, and landslides, the army provided assistance.  

Those roles changed with the effort of Tamil separatists to secede.   From 1972 (some would say 1984) the army has fought insurgents and terrorists in a bitter war.  

With the exception of a few years where India landed an expeditionary force to try to bring about peace (technically at Sri Lankan request), the focus has been totally internal.  Other countries provide military assistance, but this is basically a constabulary army.    

PRIMARY ROLES

To safeguard all national frontiers and boundaries from encroachment during peacetime.
To repel all hostile forces during wartime and national emergencies.
To deal with any form of insurgency, whether assisted by internal or external forces.Actions  in its primary capacity:

• between 1948-1960 (against Chinese insurgents)
• between 1963-1966 (with Indonesia).  

SECONDARY ROLES

To assist the Police and civil authority in the maintenance of public order
and anti terrorism.  (between 1968-1989 countered Communist    terrorism ) 

To assist the civil authority in national disasters and relief work.

To assist the civil authority in national development.

SUPPORTING ROLE. To undertake peacekeeping operations under the UN. 

It has participated in UN peace-keeping missions in 18 countries since 1960.  

See Malaysian Army web site

"North Korea has prepared for a blitzkrieg-type war of its own, and their strategy is the conquest of South Korea before the arrival of reinforcements from the US. They have all but completed preparations for such a war with forward basing of troops, a large percentage of mechanized brigades in unit composition, and possession of large numbers of special warfare units. 

With over 65% of its troops located below the Pyongyang-Wonsan axis, North Koreans can launch a surprise attack without rearrangement or adjustment of its frontline troops."  (FAS - 1999  see link next column)

• 12 infantry, 
• 4 mechanized, 
• 2 artillery)
•  plus a light special forces command, which
  oversees special warfare units. 
  

Its heavy equipment: 

• 3800 tanks (T-55, T-62, T-72, light tanks), 
• 2270 armored personnel carriers, and 
• 11200 pieces of field artillery, with a major
  percentage self-propelled for purposes of speedy artillery support. The units are geared for mechanized warfare reminiscent of the Nazi blitzkrieg. 
  
  Last but not least, 100,000 special forces troopers stand ready to engage in sabotage behind the lines, sowing confusion and turning the whole ROK into a battlefield.
  

Source: Federation of American Scientists: North Korean Military