Ministry of Social Security (North Korea)

Ministry of Social Security
조선민주주의인민공화국 사회안전성
Emblem of the Ministry of Social Security
Emblem of the Ministry of Social Security
Patch worn by guards in Pyongyang
Patch worn by guards in Pyongyang
Flag used by the Ministry of People's Security
Flag used by the Ministry of People's Security
Agency overview
FormedNovember 19, 1945 (1945-11-19)
Operational structure
HeadquartersPyongyang, North Korea
Minister responsible
Parent agencyState Affairs Commission
Child agencies

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]

  1. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "North Korea", accessed August 29, 2014.
  2. ^ "Organizational Chart of North Korean Leadership" (PDF). Seoul: Political and Military Analysis Division, Intelligence and Analysis Bureau; Ministry of Unification. January 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Daily duty: Inside North Korea's regular police force | NK News – North Korea News". 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2019-08-24.

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