60th Anniversary of License-Built Korean KrAZ Trucks

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KrAZ Trucks Press Release  /  March 1, 2019

The first batch of licensed production KrAZ-222 dump trucks in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) rolled off the assembly line of the Tokchon Automobile “Sungri” plant in 1964.. The local designation of the trucks was Jaju-64. 

Technical documentation to the KrAZ-222 Dnieper, equipment and tooling were transferred there in 1962 under Soviet Government’s resolution. KrAZ bore the brunt of industrialization in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  A young country was badly in need of industry development to strengthen its sovereignty.

KrAZ workers trained their Korean colleagues in the art of heavy truck production. KrAZ Trucks was awarded the Commemorative Red banner by the DPRK on this occasion on 5 February 1962 in heat-treatment shop. The banner is still kept in KrAZ museum.

The design of the DPRK-built KrAZ-222 was simplified. Materials and components of the truck were sourced locally, thus affecting its appearance. Poor quality welds on dump body, tightening and bucking on pressed parts of cab, poor quality painting attracted attention. About 10,000 Jaju-64 trucks were built.

In the 1980s, the truck was upgraded in partnership with a Japanese company. It was two-axle truck with an all-metal cab and modern lines. A three-axle model was also based on it.

In December 2007, KrAZ managers visited the “Sungri” plant in Tokchon to discuss the relaunch of KrAZ truck production in the DPRK. But, unfortunately, this project has not been implemented. The Jaju-64 trucks, the first North Korean vehicles with Ukrainian origins, hold a place of honor in the Tokchon plant museum.

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