National Intelligence Agency (North Korea)

The National Intelligence Agency (Korean: 국가정보국), formerly known as the Ministry of State Security (국가보위성), is the secret police agency of North Korea. It is an autonomous agency of the North Korean government reporting directly to the Supreme Leader. The agency is reputed to be one of the most brutal secret police forces in the world, and it has been involved in numerous human rights abuses.

It is one of two agencies that provide security or protection to North Korean officials and VIPs, alongside the Supreme Guard Command. The agency was known by its nickname as Saenggak kyŏngch'al (생각경찰) meaning Thought Police under Kim Jong Un's reign as leader since taking power in December 2011.