Reconnaissance General Bureau
The Reconnaissance General Bureau (Korean: 정찰총국; RGB, Reconnaissance Bureau of the General Staff Department) is a North Korean intelligence agency that manages the state's clandestine operations. Most of their operations have a specific focus on Japan, South Korea, and the United States. It was established in 2009.
| 정찰총국 | |
The column of Reconnaissance General Bureau during the 2023 February 8 Military Parade | |
| Intelligence agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2009 |
| Preceding Intelligence agency |
|
| Employees | Classified |
| Annual budget | Classified |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Parent department | General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army (partially) |
| 정찰총국 | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Jeongchal Chongguk |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chŏngch'al Ch'ongguk |
The RGB is regarded as North Korea's primary intelligence and clandestine operations organ. Although its original missions have traditionally focused on clandestine operations such as commando raids, infiltrations and disruptions, the RGB has since come to control most of the known North Korean cyber capabilities, mainly under Bureau 121 or its speculated successor, the Cyber Warfare Guidance Bureau.
It was headed at one time by Kim Yong-chol as the first head of the RGB.