Supreme Guard Command

North Korea's ruling family are claimed to be superstitious and so the Command's designation number is in reference to the numerological construct "9 and 6+3=9" (double nine), the number "9" being considered lucky.{{cite web|url=http://newfocusintl.com/exclusive-what-guides-the-decision-making-of-kim-jong-un/|title=Insider exclusive: What guides the decision-making of Kim Jong-un?|publisher=New Focus International|date=March 31, 2013|access-date=April 13, 2013|archive-date=April 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409225729/http://newfocusintl.com/exclusive-what-guides-the-decision-making-of-kim-jong-un/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/05/north-korea-nine-magic-number|title=In North Korea, nine is the magic number|author=Jang Jin-sung|work=The Guardian|date=April 5, 2013|access-date=April 13, 2013}}

According to official history, the Command participated in the Korean War (known in North Korea as the "Fatherland Liberation War"). The unit has also produced 72 "heroes of labor" and 28 "heroes of the Republic".{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=7943|title=Kim Jong Il Hits Escort Command Base|author=Kang Mi Jin|publisher=Daily NK|date=July 14, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2013}}

The first incarnation of the Command was created in 1946. Between 1970-mid 1990s the Command was part of the State Security Department. However, to deal with several coup attempts, Kim Jong Il reorganized the Guard by dismissing dozens of officers and expanding his own private bodyguard unit by 200 men and named it the "2.16 Unit".

On April 27, 2018, the SGC was deployed to protect Kim Jong Un during his visit to Panmunjon.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43920740|title = Koreas summit: Five key moments from the Kim-Moon meeting|work = BBC News|date = 27 April 2018}}

The Command falls under the Korean People's Army Ground Force and is divided into approximately six departments, three combat brigades, several bodyguard divisions, and one construction battalion. The unit is composed of 95,000-120,000 personnel.

Bodyguard divisions are divided into at least two sections, Section 1 was dedicated to the protection of Kim Il Sung and Section 2 protected Kim Jong Il. It is unknown if Kim Jong Un has a new dedicated section.

The Command has camps located throughout the country, usually near official residences, and has a strong presence in Pyongyang. The Command also monitors key military and party figures to ensure the safety of the Kim family. It also coordinates with the Pyongyang Defense Command (with its 70,000 men){{cite web|url=https://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/dprk-security-apparatus/pyongyang-defense-command/|title=Pyongyang Defense Corps|publisher=North Korea Leadership Watch|date=April 29, 2012|access-date=April 13, 2013}} and III Corps (North Korea) for the defense of the capital and other strategic locations.{{cite web|url=http://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/dprk-security-apparatus/guard-command/|title=Guard Command|date=21 August 2010|publisher=North Korea Leadership Watch|access-date=February 14, 2017}} These other military units provide an additional 95,000-100,000 soldiers, plus artillery and armored vehicles, for the defense of the country's leadership.{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/10/31/was_a_north_korean_general_really_executed_by_mortar_fire|title=Was a North Korean General Really Executed by Mortar Fire?|author=Michael Madden|publisher=Foreign Policy|date=October 31, 2013|access-date=January 22, 2014}}

According to the testimonies of North Korean defector Lee Young-kuk, recruiters for the Guard look for new recruits in high schools where students are lined up for inspection. Physical prerequisites include no facial scars and a well-proportioned body. Potential candidates have their family histories scrutinized for party loyalty and good "songbun". Once chosen, they are given an ID number while all other records are erased; contact with family is forbidden. Only one member per family is allowed to serve as a bodyguard.

Recruits are then taken to special training camps for six months and are trained for a total of two years.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2011-feb-20-la-fg-korea-bodyguard-20110220-story.html|title=Kim Jong Il's guard set himself free|author=John M. Glionna|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 20, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2013}} Training includes, Taekwondo classes, marksmanship, 25 km marches in full gear and special operations tactics. According to defector Oh Young-nam, a former member of the State Security Department, the Supreme Guard Command published a 300-page training book detailing previous security incidents.{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Bradley |title=Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader |year=2006 |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |location=New York, New York, USA |isbn=0-312-32322-0}}{{rp|547}}

• Ri Ul-sol - 1996-2003
• Yun Jong-rin - 2003-2020
• Kwak Chang-sik (곽창식)- 2020

• Lee Young-kuk{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,201976,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612083402/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,201976,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2010|title=The Supremo in His Labyrinth|author=Donald MacIntyre|publisher=Time Magazine|date=February 18, 2002|access-date=April 13, 2013}}
• Pak Su-hyon

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | last = Bermudez Jr. | first = Joseph S. | title = The Armed Forces of North Korea | publisher = I.B. Tauris | date = 2001-03-14 | isbn = 1-86064-486-4 }}

• [http://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/dprk-security-apparatus/guard-command/ Guard Command, North Korea Leadership Watch]

{{North Korean armed forces}}

Category:Protective security units

Category:Military units and formations of North Korea

Category:Korean People's Army

Category:Guards of honour