The opening sequence of the James Bond film “Die Another Day” culminates in a high-speed hovercraft chase through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), playing off North Korea’s still extensive use of these obscure vehicles. 

But the British spy’s fictional exploits are far from the only U.K. connection to North Korea’s amphibious forces. 

Hovercraft have long formed a part of the DPRK’s amphibious capabilities, featuring in the plans of its special operations forces. Tasked with a range of missions, including amphibious landings, hovercraft have formed a core part of their inventory.

Many militaries have used the British invention since the 1960s, and