Military Sets Up Three New Intelligence Bodies to Replace Disbanded Counterintelligence Command

Following the disbandment of the Defense Security Command (DSC), three new organizations, including the newly established Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters, have been officially launched to take over its missions.

The three core functions previously concentrated within the DSC—counterintelligence, security, and national security investigations—have been transferred to the newly formed Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters, the Defense Security Support Group, and the National Security Investigation Group within the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, respectively.

The Ministry of National Defense held an inauguration ceremony for the Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters at its Gwacheon headquarters, led by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back.

The Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters will utilize the existing DSC facilities located in Gwacheon.

The ministry explained that the newly established Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters will upgrade its core functions to emerge as a specialized organization for military counterintelligence information.

In the counterintelligence sector, the headquarters plans to strengthen response capabilities against North Korean and foreign military intelligence activities and terror threats. In the defense industry sector, it will focus on blocking the leakage of military secrets while exploring new business areas, such as counterintelligence support for U.S. Navy ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and major strategic assets.

In the cyber sector, it plans to focus on blocking security threats by supporting the successful establishment of the Korean-style Risk Management Framework (RMF) within the military and providing advanced technology security support, including artificial intelligence (AI) and satellites.

The newly established Defense Security Support Group is an organization that has separated and specialized the security functions of the DSC.

The Defense Security Support Group will exclusively handle military security tasks, such as central security audits and security accident investigations for units at the corps level and above, taking responsibility for the military's security posture, including the prevention of military security accidents and the protection of military secrets.

The Defense Security Support Group has been established in the Ministry of National Defense annex in Yongsan.

The National Security Investigation Group, newly established within the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, has inherited the national security investigation functions of the DSC.

By combining the investigation expertise of the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters with the national security investigation capabilities of the DSC, the National Security Investigation Group will be responsible for exclusively investigating crimes that threaten national security, such as espionage, the leakage of military secrets, and treasonous activities.

Power-driven missions and functions that had repeatedly sparked controversy within the DSC, such as trend surveillance, intelligence gathering on personnel, and the collection of illegal and corrupt information, have been institutionally abolished.

The Ministry of National Defense also plans to implement stabilization measures to ensure the normal execution of missions by the three newly launched organizations taking over the functions of the disbanded DSC and to prevent any security vacuum.

To facilitate the transfer of national security investigation functions, an Investigation Function Transfer Task Force involving the DSC and the Investigation Headquarters was operated under the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense. This task force transferred forensic investigation equipment to the Investigation Headquarters and deployed a significant number of national security investigation personnel.

For the transfer of military security functions, security audit and investigation techniques and know-how were imparted, and a large number of security personnel were reassigned, the ministry explained.

It also stated that it will continuously operate a National Security Investigation Consultative Body involving the Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters, the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, and the Defense Security Support Group to maintain cooperation for sharing security investigation information and intelligence, as well as joint responses among related agencies.

Following the disbandment of the DSC, about half of the existing DSC personnel moved to the Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters, while approximately 200 personnel transferred to the Defense Security Support Group and about 160 personnel moved to the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters.

Around 460 officers belonging to the DSC have returned to their respective original branches of service.

(Photo provided by the Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.