Why Kim Jong Un Is Tightening His Inner Circle

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has replaced three senior officials responsible for his personal security, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry, in a move analysts say reflects growing fear of assassination attempts and external threats.

The reshuffle, first detected during an October military parade, affected multiple state agencies, including the elite Bodyguard Command tasked with defending Kim from drone and electronic attacks.

Experts link the decision to heightened international attention following Kim’s deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, a move that may have increased perceived risks against him.

South Korea’s intelligence agency has previously reported upgraded security measures around Kim, including efforts to acquire signal-jamming and drone-detection equipment.

The overhaul also comes as Kim increasingly appears in public with his daughter Ju Ae, widely viewed as a potential successor, and amid renewed fears sparked by the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — a scenario Pyongyang has long described as its worst-case “decapitation strike.”