North Korean House of Cards

olstering internal security. Provincial MPS bureaus and offices
received four guidelines related to transgressions that carry particularly
severe punishment: slander of Kim Jong-un; “superstitious behavior,”
including of a religious nature like Christianity; production, sale, or
consumption of illicit substances; and viewing or distributing illicit
recordings. 621 Following the promulgation of these new guidelines,
North Korean authorities formed new inspection teams to address
border security concerns. The teams were “created out of the graduating
class of a university of politics under the Ministry of People’s Security in
Pyongyang 622 and border security was tightened.” 623
ii. Korean People’s Interior Security Forces
The MPS also has authority over the KPISF, a national guard-like entity
dedicated to quelling social unrest and suppressing domestic rebellions. 624 The
KPISF is headed by General Kim In-sik. 625 In April 2012, Kim was appointed Vice
Premier at the Fifth Session of the 12th SPA, while Ri Pyong-sam, the Director of
the KPISF Political Bureau, was made an alternate member of the Politburo at the
Fourth Party Conference.
Image 42:
Gen. Kim In-sik
Commander, KPISF
Image 43:
Col. Gen. Ri Thae-chol
Led KPISF delegation to
China in 2011
Image 44:
Ri Pyong-sam
Director, KPISF
Political Bureau
621 Kang Mi-Jin, “New MPS Guidelines Portend Hard Times,” Daily NK, January 7, 2014.
622 Kang Mi-Jin, “Regime Pushing To Stem Defection Tide,” Daily NK, January 15, 2014.
623 At the same time, the SSD began to collaborate with smugglers to track potential defectors.
624 The KPISF assumed its current name in early 2010. Before that, it was known as the Korean
People’s Security Force. The new name (Nae-mu-gun) means “a force to maintain internal order and
stability,” in contrast to its previous name (Gyeong-bi-dae), which means “guard units.”
625 An alternate member of the KWP Central Committee, Kim In-sik was a member of both
Kim Jong-il’s and Jo Myong-rok’s Funeral Committee lists.
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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