North Korea’s rapid replacement of Kim Jong Un’s top personal security chiefs signals rising fears of assassination and a deep erosion of loyalty within the regime’s elite amid mounting internal and external pressures. News Summary North Korea has replaced its top military officials responsible for guarding Kim Jong Un, according to South Korea’s unification ministry, with the changes observed during an October 2025 military parade. The replacement comes amid heightened con

While direct U.S. military regime change in North Korea is unlikely due to its proximity to China and Russia, news of Maduro’s capture could rapidly erode the perception of regime invincibility among North Korean elites, military officers, and ordinary citizens.