Ministry of Social Security 조선민주주의인민공화국 사회안전성 | |
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Agency overview | |
Formed | November 19, 1945 |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Pyongyang, North Korea |
Minister responsible |
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Parent agency | State Affairs Commission |
Child agencies |
North Korea portal |
The Ministry of Social Security commonly known as BoAn (Korean: 보안; Hanja: 保安) or the Ministry of People's Security is the interior ministry and principal law enforcement agency within North Korea.[1] The ministry serves as the official public and internal security force, responsibile for maintaining public order and protecting key facilities including railways and other forms of transport. It also maintains a large paramilitary internal force, known as the Social Security Forces.
Unlike most ministries in North Korea, which operate under the Cabinet, the Ministry of Social Security is directly supervised by the State Affairs Commission, though in the past it has been subordinate to other national bodies.[2] The current minister is Ri Yong-gil. According to Fyodor Tertitskiy, columnist at NK News, prospective officers are chosen by recommendation by a local Korean Workers Party (WPK) Committee, although some are chosen because of their songbun status.[3]