December 22, 2025
soul – The Department of Defense proposed reviving the North Korea policy division related to inter-Korean military talks and confidence-building, while reorganizing the organization to strengthen military AI and other future military programs.
The Ministry of National Defense explained that the decision to revert the name and functions of the existing North Korea Strategic Division to its previous name was “to strengthen the legitimacy of the implementation of North Korea policy, including inter-Korean military dialogue and confidence-building measures.”
In July 2024, under the Yun Seok-yeol administration, the ministry renamed the North Korea Policy Division to the North Korea Strategy Division and shifted its focus to sanctions-related work.
On September 19, 2018, the North Korean Strategic Division withdrew its previous obligations to maintain and comply with the Inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement, and North Korea completely suspended the agreement in November 2023.
This personnel change was officially decided after the Ministry of Defense pledged at its 2026 policy conference on December 18 to “proactively and gradually restore the September 19 Military Agreement in order to effectively support the government's efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula.''
The Ministry has submitted proposed changes to the Implementing Regulations governing its organizational structure in a legal notice.
The Ministry of Defense has also chosen to revive the post of Permanent Secretary for the first time in 20 years, creating a new position to support the development and application of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in the defense sector.
The position of vice minister in the Ministry of National Defense was abolished in 2006 under the Roh Moo-hyun administration. However, the ministry has hinted at the possibility of reinstating the post since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, and the latest legislative notice crystallizes that plan.
According to the revised draft, the new assistant minister will assist Defense Minister Ahn Kyeong-bak and Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee and oversee defense AI planning, force development policy, defense informatization, and logistics management.
The personnel changes are also aimed at strengthening the department's capabilities in new types of warfare.
The Advanced Force Planning Bureau, currently under the Military Policy Bureau, will be spun off and reorganized as the Defense AI Planning Bureau under the reinstated post of Assistant Minister.
As part of the overhaul, a new division will be created within the Defense AI Planning Directorate and seven staff positions will be added to strengthen defense AI policy development and coordination.
The Manned/Unmanned Organization Division, which was established as a temporary department in the Military Policy Bureau, will be made permanent. According to the legislative notice, the realignment is aimed at “ensuring the smooth execution of operations related to the transition to an integrated manned-unmanned combat system.”
The legislative notice was posted on Dec. 19, and the public comment period ends on Friday. The changes are expected to take effect early next year.
