Kim Jong Un’s new top bodyguard steps into spotlight after quiet shake-up



Analysis Kim Jong Un’s new top bodyguard steps into spotlight after quiet shake-up Change in top security personnel comes as North Korean leader enhances protection against assassination Colin Zwirko July 8, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Kim Jong Un's new top bodyguard appears on the right during a construction site inspection \| Image: KCNA (March 16, 2025), edited by NK Pro A new chief bodyguard appears to have secured his spot by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s side over the last year amid stepped up protection against assassination attempts. According to NK Pro analysis of the DPRK leader’s public appearances in recent years, the new top bodyguard, whose name remains unknown, previously served in a senior role in preparations for Kim’s summits abroad in Singapore, Vietnam, Russia and China in 2018 and 2019. Kim Jong Un’s previous top bodyguard Kim Chol Gyu — commander of the Guard Department of the State Affairs Commission (SAC Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge 02A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality 03Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records 04Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May 05Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions 06North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data 07North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command 08North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials

Analysis

Kim Jong Un’s new top bodyguard steps into spotlight after quiet shake-up

Change in top security personnel comes as North Korean leader enhances protection against assassination

Colin Zwirko July 8, 2025

Kim Jong Un’s new top bodyguard steps into spotlight after quiet shake-up

Kim Jong Un's new top bodyguard appears on the right during a construction site inspection | Image: KCNA (March 16, 2025), edited by NK Pro

A new chief bodyguard appears to have secured his spot by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s side over the last year amid stepped up protection against assassination attempts.

According to NK Pro analysis of the DPRK leader’s public appearances in recent years, the new top bodyguard, whose name remains unknown, previously served in a senior role in preparations for Kim’s summits abroad in Singapore, Vietnam, Russia and China in 2018 and 2019.

Kim Jong Un’s previous top bodyguard Kim Chol Gyu — commander of the Guard Department of the State Affairs Commission (SAC

01Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge
02A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality
03Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records
04Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May
05Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions
06North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data
07North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command
08North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials

Kim Jong Un’s new top bodyguard steps into spotlight after quiet shake-up

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Colin Zwirko