Supreme Guard Command

{{Short description|Personal bodyguard force of North Korea's ruling Kim family}} {{infobox military unit |unit_name=Supreme Guard Command |image= |caption=North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the Supreme Guard Command's Honor Guard Battalion, 8 February 2023. |dates=1946–present |country={{flag|North Korea}} |allegiance=23px Kim Jong Un |branch={{army|North Korea}} |type= Protective security unit |role= Air assault Bodyguard * Protection of domestic VIPs and the Kim family and high-ranking Workers' Party of Korea officials Bomb disposal Clandestine operation Close-quarters battle Counterintelligence Counter sudden attacks Covert operation Crowd control Force protection Hostage rescue HUMINT Intelligence assessment Medical evacuation Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Tactical emergency medical services |size=95,000-120,000 (Corps) |command_structure= |garrison=Pyongyang |garrison_label=Headquarters |nickname={{bulletedlist|Unit 963|Escort Bureau|Guard Command|Guard Bureau|General Guard Bureau}} |patron=Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of North Korea |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march=''Song of the Korean People's Army'' |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= Korean War |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |battle_honours_label= |disbanded= |flying_hours= |website=  |commander1= General Kwak Chang-sik |commander1_label= Commander |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |commander4= |commander4_label= |notable_commanders= Marshal Ri Ul-sol  |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= |identification_symbol_4= |identification_symbol_4_label=  |aircraft_attack= |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= |aircraft_fighter= |aircraft_helicopter= |aircraft_helicopter_attack= |aircraft_helicopter_cargo= |aircraft_helicopter_multirole= |aircraft_helicopter_observation= |aircraft_helicopter_transport= |aircraft_helicopter_trainer= |aircraft_helicopter_utility= |aircraft_interceptor= |aircraft_patrol= |aircraft_recon= |aircraft_trainer= |aircraft_transport= |aircraft_tanker= }}

{{Politics of North Korea}} The '''Supreme Guard Command''' ({{Korean|호위사령부|護衛司令部}}) (also known as '''Unit 963''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/2018/06/24/ogd-the-road-song-and-the-ghost-of-sejanus/|title=OGD (The Road Song) and the Ghost of Sejanus | North Korea Leadership Watch}}</ref> the '''Escort Bureau''',<ref name=DailyNK>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00400&num=4073|title=Watch Escort Bureau, Learn of Kim's Successor|author=Moon Sung Hwee|publisher=Daily NK|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref> '''Guard Command''',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/research/ipr_15163.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424074734/http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/research/ipr_15163.pdf |archive-date=2014-04-24 }}</ref> '''Bodyguard Command''',<ref name=Tertitskiy>{{cite book |last=Tertitskiy|first=Fyodor|author-link= Fyodor Tertitskiy|year=2022|title=The North Korean Army: History, Structure, Daily Life|publisher=Routledge|location=Abingdon-on-Thames |page=75|isbn=978-1-032147-15-4}}</ref> '''Guard Bureau''' and the '''General Guard Bureau'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/06/kim-jong-un-tightens-his-grip/|title=Kim Jong Un tightens his grip|access-date=2014-04-24|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041212/http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/06/kim-jong-un-tightens-his-grip/|url-status=dead}}</ref>) is a protective security unit of the Korean People's Army tasked with the protection of North Korea's ruling Kim family, senior Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) officials, and other domestic VIPs, reporting directly to the Supreme Leader.<ref name=NKecon>{{cite web|url=http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2011/07/18/kim-jong-ils-visit-to-kpa-unit-963/|title=Kim Jong il's visit to KPA Unit 963|publisher=North Korean Economy Watch|date=July 18, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref> Active since 1946, the unit's activities are overseen by Office 80 of the WPK Politburo's Organization and Guidance Department. The current Supreme Guard commander is General Kwak Chang-sik.<ref name=GC/>

==Naming== North Korea's ruling family are claimed to be superstitious and so the Command's designation number is in reference to the numerological construct "9 and 6+3=9" (double nine), the number "9" being considered lucky.<ref name=NFI>{{cite web|url=http://newfocusintl.com/exclusive-what-guides-the-decision-making-of-kim-jong-un/|title=Insider exclusive: What guides the decision-making of Kim Jong-un?|publisher=New Focus International|date=March 31, 2013|access-date=April 13, 2013|archive-date=April 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409225729/http://newfocusintl.com/exclusive-what-guides-the-decision-making-of-kim-jong-un/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/05/north-korea-nine-magic-number|title=In North Korea, nine is the magic number|author=Jang Jin-sung|work=The Guardian|date=April 5, 2013|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref>

==History== According to official history, the Command participated in the Korean War (known in North Korea as the "Fatherland Liberation War"). The unit has also produced 72 "heroes of labor" and 28 "heroes of the Republic".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=7943|title=Kim Jong Il Hits Escort Command Base|author=Kang Mi Jin|publisher=Daily NK|date=July 14, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref> The first incarnation of the Command was created in 1946. Between the 1970s to the 1990s the Command was part of the State Security Department. However, to deal with several coup attempts, Kim Jong Il reorganized the Guard by dismissing dozens of officers and expanding his own private bodyguard unit by 200 men and named it the "2.16 Unit" after his birthday of February 16.<ref name="GC" /> On April 27, 2018, the SGC was deployed to protect Kim Jong Un during his visit to Panmunjon.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43920740|title = Koreas summit: Five key moments from the Kim-Moon meeting|work = BBC News|date = 27 April 2018}}</ref>

==Organization== The Command falls under the Korean People's Army Ground Force and is divided into approximately six departments, three combat brigades, several bodyguard divisions, and one construction battalion.<ref name=GC/> The unit is composed of 95,000-120,000 personnel.<ref name=GC/> Bodyguard divisions have been divided into a total of three separate units; ''Section 1'' was dedicated to the protection of Kim Il Sung and ''Section 2,'' the '2.16' unit, protected Kim Jong Il.<ref name="NFI" /> Unit 974 is the SGC unit currently responsible for the protection of Kim Jong Un.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Hong-bae |date=24 August 2017 |title=Secret of 974 Guard Unit for Kim Jong-un Wrapped in a Veil |url=http://www.sisaplusnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=18442 |access-date=27 July 2020 |website=sisaplusnews.com}}</ref>

The Command has camps located throughout the country, usually near official residences, and has a strong presence in Pyongyang where its headquarters are located. The Command also monitors key military and party figures to ensure the safety of the Kim family.<ref name="DailyNK" /> It also coordinates with the Pyongyang Defense Command (with its 70,000 men)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/dprk-security-apparatus/pyongyang-defense-command/|title=Pyongyang Defense Corps|publisher=North Korea Leadership Watch|date=April 29, 2012|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref> and the III Corps for the defense of the capital and other strategic locations.<ref name="GC">{{cite web|url=http://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/dprk-security-apparatus/guard-command/|title=Guard Command|date=21 August 2010|publisher=North Korea Leadership Watch|access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> These other military units provide an additional 95,000-100,000 soldiers, plus artillery and armored vehicles, for the defense of the country's leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/10/31/was_a_north_korean_general_really_executed_by_mortar_fire|title=Was a North Korean General Really Executed by Mortar Fire?|author=Michael Madden|publisher=Foreign Policy|date=October 31, 2013|access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref>

===Recruitment and training=== According to the testimonies of North Korean defector Lee Young-kuk, recruiters for the Guard look for new recruits in high schools where students are lined up for inspection. Physical prerequisites include no facial scars, good height and a well-proportioned body. Potential candidates have their family histories scrutinized for party loyalty and good "songbun". Once chosen, they are given an ID number while all other records are erased; contact with family is forbidden.<ref name="Time"/> Only one member per family is allowed to serve as a bodyguard.<ref name="Time"/> The recruits are selected from high schools in provinces, counties and cities across the DPRK, primarily the so-called "No.1 Schools", and those who are the children of workers, farmers, and KPA soldiers are preferred, especially ones living in rural communities. Contact with family members is not allowed for at least 12–13 years. Recruits are then taken to special training camps for six months and are trained for a total of two years.<ref name="LATimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2011-feb-20-la-fg-korea-bodyguard-20110220-story.html|title=Kim Jong Il's guard set himself free|author=John M. Glionna|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 20, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref> Training includes Taekwondo classes, marksmanship, 25 km marches in full gear and special operations tactics.<ref name="Time" /> According to defector Oh Young-nam, a former member of the State Security Department, the Supreme Guard Command published a 300-page training book detailing previous security incidents.<ref name="Fatherly">{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Bradley |title=Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader |year=2006 |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |location=New York, New York, USA |isbn=0-312-32322-0}}</ref>

==Commanders== *Ri Ul-sol - 1996–2003 *Yun Jong-rin - 2003–2020 *Kwak Chang-sik (곽창식)- 2020

==Known members== * Kang Jin,<ref>"Kim Jong-un’s Bodyguard Reveals What Happens At His Secret Parties", Youtube accessed 10 October 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOODnrnoa9s</ref><ref>Accessed 20 October 2025, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/ex-north-korean-bodyguard-reveals-kim-dynastys-secretive-luxury-life/WSAWMXSKPFEGTOXLUBWIBQ5RBU/</ref> * Lee Young-kuk<ref name="Time">{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,201976,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612083402/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,201976,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2010|title=The Supremo in His Labyrinth|author=Donald MacIntyre|publisher=Time Magazine|date=February 18, 2002|access-date=April 13, 2013}}</ref> * Pak Su-hyon<ref name="Fatherly"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== * {{cite book | last = Bermudez Jr. | first = Joseph S. | title = The Armed Forces of North Korea | publisher = I.B. Tauris | date = 2001-03-14 | isbn = 1-86064-486-4 }}

==External links== * [http://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/dprk-security-apparatus/guard-command/ Guard Command, North Korea Leadership Watch]

Category:Protective security units Category:Military units and formations of North Korea Category:Korean People's Army Category:Guards of honour