In a sweeping move to bolster regime security, North Korea’s Ministry of State Security is doubling its overseas operations and expanding domestic surveillance by 50%, backed by a new $100 million high-tech facility.
Speaking anonymously, a source in Pyongyang told Daily NK recently that the expansion efforts followed an order from leader Kim Jong Un, which “emphasized the importance of collecting, analyzing and compiling domestic and overseas intelligence.”
North Korea appears intent to expand the Ministry of State Security in an effort to solidify regime stability by cracking down on internal and external threats.
Following Kim’s expansion order, the ministry’s overseas counterintelligence bureau doubled, while the domestic counterintelligence team grew 50% larger. In response to rising threats against the country’s communications network, a new communications security management department has appeared under the ministry’s communications bureau.
New auxiliary office for intelligence gathering and analysis
Additional facilities have been established or are under construction as a result of the organization’s expansion efforts, including an “eight-story auxiliary office being built at the Ministry of State Security,” the source said, adding that each floor has 2,500 square meters of floor space, for a total of 20,000 square meters.
“Intelligence gathering and analysis organizations will use the new auxiliary office,” the source said. “Experts in overseas intelligence gathering and local and overseas digital activity, technicians, researchers and commanders will use the office, which will also have secret meeting rooms and strategic planning rooms for important commanders.”
Construction of the ministry’s new auxiliary office was approved in 2022 and will likely be completed before the Ninth Party Congress, which is set for 2026 or the end of 2026, the source said.
About $100 million has been set aside for construction, which comes not only from government supplementary budgets for the ministry and special funds but also from unofficial funds gathered overseas.
“The authorities will apply security and data system technology and equipment that surpasses that of Israel’s Mossad or the American CIA to the auxiliary office,” the source claimed.
“Inside the building, they plan to install facial and fingerprint recognition systems, card readers for entrance and smart video surveillance devices, while outside the building, they plan to deploy electronic fences and walls and heartbeat detectors.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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