By Lee Han-soo
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is allegedly on edge about being assassinated, the National Intelligence Agency (NIS) told lawmakers at a restricted session of the South Korean parliament Thursday.
"Kim is engrossed with collecting information about the 'decapitation operation' through his intelligence agencies," said Lee Cheol-woo, a Liberty Party of Korea lawmaker who attended the meeting. "Kim has taken to traveling at dawn and switches between different subordinates' cars instead of always traveling in his own Mercedes-Benz."
The "decapitation operation" is a clandestine operation by U.S. and South Korean special forces that would be tasked with eliminating the North Korean leadership in the event of war.
The unit is scheduled to be created by the end of this year.
Kim's nervous state has increased since March, when members of the US Navy's Seal Team Six took part in exercises with South Korean special forces.
The U.S. made it clear then that the units were training for a "decapitation operation."
"The number of Kim Jong-un's public activities this year amounted to 51, a 32 percent decrease from last year," said Lee, quoting the NIS. "Since 2013, we have seen a downward trajectory of Kim's public activities. It shows that Kim has already succeeded in seizing power and secured his status in the regime."
Meanwhile, the NIS said a drone discovered last week after it apparently crashed took 551 pictures of the South's territory, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
The NIS also revealed that six South Korean nationals are detained in North Korea, most arrested for religious activities or helping North Korean defectors.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is allegedly on edge about being assassinated, the National Intelligence Agency (NIS) told lawmakers at a restricted session of the South Korean parliament Thursday.
"Kim is engrossed with collecting information about the 'decapitation operation' through his intelligence agencies," said Lee Cheol-woo, a Liberty Party of Korea lawmaker who attended the meeting. "Kim has taken to traveling at dawn and switches between different subordinates' cars instead of always traveling in his own Mercedes-Benz."
The "decapitation operation" is a clandestine operation by U.S. and South Korean special forces that would be tasked with eliminating the North Korean leadership in the event of war.
The unit is scheduled to be created by the end of this year.
Kim's nervous state has increased since March, when members of the US Navy's Seal Team Six took part in exercises with South Korean special forces.
The U.S. made it clear then that the units were training for a "decapitation operation."
"The number of Kim Jong-un's public activities this year amounted to 51, a 32 percent decrease from last year," said Lee, quoting the NIS. "Since 2013, we have seen a downward trajectory of Kim's public activities. It shows that Kim has already succeeded in seizing power and secured his status in the regime."
Meanwhile, the NIS said a drone discovered last week after it apparently crashed took 551 pictures of the South's territory, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
The NIS also revealed that six South Korean nationals are detained in North Korea, most arrested for religious activities or helping North Korean defectors.
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