State Security Department - Name

Name

Various U.S. expert authorities on the North Korean government appear to disagree on the name and place of the force within the North Korean government. It is more than likely that the Agency is used by the elite to coordinate the activities and provide cover for several different security bodies each with its own unique responsibilities and classified names that are referred to by code, similar to other Eastern bloc agencies i.e. Room 39. The CIA World Factbook refers to the organisation as the civil security forces, and says it is part of the North Korean armed forces. However, this may be a misreading of the Factbook, as it does not appear to refer to a specific force, merely the numerous civilian security bodies.

The Library of Congress Country Studies, the Federation of American Scientists, Globalsecurity.org, and Joseph Bermudez, in his book The Armed Forces of North Korea all refer to the organisation as the State Security Department. They further say that it is not part of the Korean People's Army (the North Korean armed forces), and instead reports directly to the Supreme Leader.