Pak revealed intelligence on upcoming South Korea, US, and Japan joint drills, including Freedom Edge and Iron Mace
Seoul
South Korea’s unification ministry on Monday said North Korea is believed to have expanded its spy agency, the General Reconnaissance Bureau (GRB), into a new body called the General Reconnaissance Information Bureau. The move is seen as an effort to strengthen its ability to collect and analyse foreign intelligence, supported by the operation of a military spy satellite launched in November 2023.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Koo Byoung-sam, said officials are closely monitoring this development, noting the satellite has enhanced North Korea’s surveillance capabilities. The new agency was mentioned for the first time in a statement issued Sunday by Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Pak revealed he had received intelligence on upcoming joint drills by South Korea, the United States, and Japan. The Freedom Edge exercise, along with the Iron Mace tabletop drill by Seoul and Washington, was highlighted as part of the bureau’s reporting.
North Korea’s success in putting a spy satellite into orbit last November, following two failed attempts earlier that year, appears to have boosted its intelligence ambitions.
Meanwhile, the ministry noted that leader Kim Jong-un is now stressing the importance of conventional weapons. Observing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kim reportedly concluded nuclear weapons cannot be deployed on active battlefields. He is expected to announce a dual policy of strengthening both nuclear and conventional forces at the upcoming party congress.
Kim recently inspected weapons research institutes, a move interpreted as a signal to foreign audiences since the visit was only reported by the Korean Central News Agency and not by domestic outlets like Rodong Sinmun.
