North Korea's Kim revamps private security detail, South says

FILE PHOTO: This picture taken on January 10, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on January 11, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to the fourth-stage construction project of 10,000 housing units in Hwasong area, which is nearing completion, in Pyongyang. - AFP/KCNA VIA KNS

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has replaced three top officials in charge of his personal security, Seoul said Tuesday (Jan 13), a sign the despot may increasingly fear assassination plots.

Seoul's Unification Ministry -- responsible for managing relations with Pyongyang -- said three state agencies handling Kim's security had new bosses.