North Korea has transformed its Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) into the Reconnaissance Information General Bureau, creating a unified intelligence agency that integrates satellite, cyber, signals and human intelligence operations.
A source in North Korea told Daily NK recently that the Reconnaissance Information General Bureau “was first officially unveiled in a statement by Comrade Pak Jong Chon (vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea) in mid-September, but a final decision was made in late June following internal considerations that began in April.”
The source added that the existing RGB “was reorganized, integrating its infiltration and clandestine operations capabilities with additional satellite, cyber, signal and human intelligence analysis functions.”
The reorganization didn’t simply change the nameplates, the source said—it “moved the RGB away from being an organization focused on military infiltrations, transforming it into a ‘military intelligence headquarters-style agency’ that simultaneously conducts satellite surveillance and data analysis.”
In 2009, North Korea created the RGB by merging the army’s Reconnaissance Bureau with the ruling party’s Operations Department and Office 35. In the latest move, however, the RGB’s authority was elevated by formalizing its subordinate satellite and cyber intelligence analysis functions rather than by absorbing outside organizations.
Behind the reorganization is North Korea’s successful launch of the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite in November 2023. While North Korea acknowledges the satellite’s imagery suffers from low resolution, it nevertheless uses it to regularly observe changes at training grounds, airfields and ports in countries it considers enemies—the United States and Japan, but mainly South Korea.
From separate systems to integrated intelligence
North Korea has built a multi-layered analysis system by combining satellite data with signals intelligence and human intelligence. The Reconnaissance Information General Bureau appears to operate a system that links several intelligence assets, allowing them to complement each other.
“The Reconnaissance Information General Bureau has been systematized to allow satellite, cyber, signals and human intelligence to mutually supplement each other under a single operational flow rather than operate separately,” the source said. “Thanks to this interconnected system, false alarms have been reduced and analytical accuracy has improved.”
Internally, “224 strategic duty” meetings are held weekly, where comprehensive situation reports integrating satellite, cyber, signals and human intelligence are delivered to the Supreme Command and the Central Military Commission.
Given that Pak Jong Chon said in his September statement that he had received a report on allied South Korean-U.S. exercises from the Reconnaissance Information General Bureau, the organization appears to have already established itself as a key intelligence agency.
Moreover, the Reconnaissance Information General Bureau has the authority to report directly to the Supreme Commander without going through the head of the General Staff Department or the Central Military Commission, the source said.
“The Reconnaissance Information General Bureau was expanded into a national intelligence body that handles political, economic and even diplomatic intelligence,” another source said. “Given that overseas operations, cyber activity and network management to break sanctions are all taking place under one roof, the Reconnaissance Information General Bureau is becoming the central pillar of North Korea’s triad system of strategic operations that merges information warfare, economic warfare and psychological warfare.”
Meanwhile, North Korea appears to be pursuing technical cooperation with Russia for satellite propulsion, sensor and ground system technologies. The Reconnaissance Information General Bureau has a specialized department for contacting Russian experts, with priority placed on advisory cooperation for military technology.
North Korea is also seeking to build intelligence networks and expand funding networks in third countries and regions such as Laos, Vietnam and South America.
Additionally, North Korea is cooperating with Chinese local governments and private companies to acquire commercial electronics parts and data processing technology. Through contracts between Chinese trading companies and entities under the Reconnaissance Information General Bureau, North Korea is circumventing international surveillance by disguising deals as “private transactions.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: dailynk.com
