Bodyguard Personnel Changes

The commanders of the Central Committee Guard Department, Guard Department and Guard Command have changed during the last year.  The changes were publicized during the 10 October 2025 military parade commemorating the foundation of the party.

Lt. Gen. Song Jun Sol was identified as director of the Central Committee Guard Office (CCGO) Song was elected a member of the WPK Central Committee in December 2024 so it is certain he was appointed head of CCGD on or around that time.  Song replaces Han Sun Chol.

Maj. Gen. Ro Yong Chol was identified as director of the State Affairs Commission (SAC) Guard Department.  Ro replaces Kim Chol Gyu who has not worked a KJU event since summer 2024.

Lt. Gen.  Ra Chol Jin was identified as director of the Guard Command (GC).  He replaces Col. Gen. Kwak Chang Sik who had been head of the GC for about seven years.

Of the four organizations responsible for the protection and logistical support for KJU and core DPRK elites, three had leadership changes within the last year.   As mentioned above, Song Jun Sol was most likely appointed to head the CCGO in late 2024 given his election to the WPK Central Committee.   Former SAC Guard Department director Kim Chol Gyu retired or was dismissed around July 2024 and his public functions at #1 Events assumed by a permanent replacement around September   Kwak Chang Sik had been observed last fall leading rebuilding efforts in North P’yo’ngan and was active at the GC in early 2025.   As such, these are relatively recent personnel changes.

The body guard personnel shuffle only involved units that provide KJU’s close escort and security, with the sole survivor, Guard Department (GD) director Lt. Gen. Kim Yong Ho.   It did not target other commanders in North Korea’s Praetorian Guard.   Pyongyang Defense Command (PDC; 91st Corps) commander Lt. Gen. Choe Kang Il, Pyongyang AAA head Lt. Gen. Ryang Gil Song and III Army Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol remain in place and participated in the parade.

2025 has been a year of great…well, vertiginous, change for North Korean elites on the personnel and process fronts.  If we take the bodyguard leadership changes with the appointment of a new Military Security Command (MSC) Director in May, along with PAD bickering and turfwars over KJU events and state media coverage thereof, we are seeing some significant upheaval at KJU’s doorway.  Perhaps, it is a housecleaning before the convocation of the 9th Party Congress in 2026.

On the other hand, there is some precedent in DPRK political culture.   During 2004-2005, the MSC Director was replaced following the death of Won Ung Hui.  The PAD and its affiliates in DPRK media were subject to party inspections, which resulted in the execution of the then-PAD Director/WPK Secretary.   In 2005, there were changes to the leadership of the Guard Command.   20 years ago we could point to a certain railway accident in the Sinu’iju suburbs as the catalyst.   What’s the train accident this time?