For the first time in years the three pillars of Kim Jong Un’s personal defense shield have been revamped all at once. The latest intelligence analysis from Seoul says the heads of the Guard Office, the State Affairs Commission Guard Department and the Guard Command have all been replaced with new, younger loyalists.
The New Faces of the Shield
They say that the following leadership transitions will follow from North Korean Key Figures Information 2025 from the Ministry of Unification:
- Guard Office (Personal Protection): Song Jun-sol takes the place of Han Soon-chul. This is the unit that has the physical security function of Kim and his family at its heart.
- State Affairs Commission Guard Department (Public Events): Ro Kyung-chul replaces Kim Chul-gyu. Ensures security during summits and military parades is handled by this group.
- Guard Command (Facility Security): Ra Chul-jin takes over for Kwak Chang-sik. At the center of his/her function is the maintenance of Kim’s homes and important government headquarters.
- Only Kim Yong-ho (Director of the Guard Bureau, often likened to the U.S. Secret Service) has held that position.
Why the Panic? The “Maduro Playbook” and Ukraine
Kim’s paranoia, analysts say, was triggered by two big world events:
- The Maduro Operation: The U.S. army’s takeover of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, has brought waves of fear across Pyongyang. For North Korea’s leadership, a “decapitation strike” — an intentional purging of the head of state — has long been their version of the worst possible nightmare.
- The Ukraine Factor: Kim’s decision to send North Korean troops to assist Russia’s war in Ukraine has put him under the spotlight of Ukrainian intelligence and increased international attention. Experts said Kim fears a retaliatory strike or an assassination plan with Ukrainian special operatives.
Visual Shifts in Protection
The reshuffle coincided with a visibly evolving element of Kim’s security detail. Since late 2024, his bodyguards are said to be holding mysterious black briefcases that are said to be foldable bulletproof shields or concealed submachine guns. The North Korean leader has also allegedly looked for modern drone-jamming technology and electronic countermeasure equipment to fend off a contemporary aerial threat. The “Supreme Leader” still appears to embody total supremacy, but this frenzied recalibration of his inner system denotes a leader far more concerned about the next day than he was in late 2024.
