Security Agencies of North Korea under the Kim Jong Un Regime

Abstract

This study aims to analyze security agencies under the National Defense Commissionof the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and suggest its future outlookunder the new leadership of Kim Jong Un. This study found that there are twomajor security agencies in North Korea: First, the Guard Command that protectsthe surroundings of the Chairman of the National Defense Commission (KimJong Un), and protects North Korean key figures, and state guests; and Second,Division 6 of the Party Central Committee provides close protection to the Chairmanof the National Defense Commission and his aides and extended family. The GuardCommand is composed of the General Staff Department, the First and SecondDepartments, and the General Rear Service Department, and the First Departmentis comprised of the Escort Division 1, 2, and 3, the Event Security Division, theTransportation Protection Division, and the Train Escort Division. Division 6 of theParty Central Committee has the Operations Section, the Training Section, the GuardSection, the Event Section, the Rear Service Section, the Mobility Section, and #5Document Editor. Among which, the Guard Section provides close protection for theChairman of the National Defense Commission. In the Kim Jong Un regime, it isexpected that responsibility and authority of Division 6 of the Party Central Committeewill be expanded and that security services will adopt scientification of its skillsand techniques and enhance aerial escort services due to the increasing frequencyof transportation by airplane.