South Korea ‘decapitation squad’ to target North’s leaders
Seoul announces assassination brigade following Kim Jong Un’s nuclear test

South Korea is establishing a special forces assassination unit to target the North’s leadership and thwart Kim Jong Un’s nuclear ambitions, it has emerged.
Defence Minister Song Young-moo told lawmakers in Seoul of the government’s plans for the so-called “decapitation unit” last week, one day after North Korea’s successful test of its sixth nuclear bomb.
Although the unit has not been assigned to literally decapitate North Korean leaders, “that is clearly the menacing message South Korea is trying to send”, says The New York Times’ Choe Sang-Hun.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The brigade-sized unit of 2,000 to 4,000 soldiers could be tasked to kill Kim and other North Korean leaders, pre-empt a North Korean strike on the South, or fight in a war, Vox reports.
It is rare for a country to announce plans to assassinate a head of state, but according to Business Insider: “The South is trying to freak out its northern neighbour and get it to the negotiating table instead of further developing nuclear weapons.”
It is a difficult balancing act, however - one that pits South Korea’s preference for diplomatic talks against its need to deter a potentially unstable northern neighbour with nuclear ambitions.
"The best deterrence we can have, next to having our own nukes, is to make Kim Jong Un fear for his life," retired South Korean Lt. Gen. Shin Won-sik told The New York Times.
Seoul reportedly plans to set up the brigade by the end of the year.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
July 2 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Wednesday's political cartoons include a problem for Florida sports fans, a pork-laden 'Big, beautiful, bill' and future generations being saddled with debt.
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
How developed was Iran's nuclear program and what's left now?
Today's Big Question Israel and the United States have said different things about Iran's capabilities
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Why Israel is attacking Iran now
The Explainer A weakened Tehran and a distracted Donald Trump have led Benjamin Netanyahu to finally act against long-standing foe
-
South Korea elects liberal Lee as president
speed read Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, was elected president following months of political instability in the wake of Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment
-
North Korea's army of fake IT workers
The Explainer Using AI and stolen information to craft false identities, they are becoming an 'increasing menace' to top tech companies in the US and UK
-
China looms large over India and Pakistan's latest violence
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Beijing may not have had troops on the ground, but as South Asia's two nuclear powers bared their teeth over Kashmir, China eyed an opportunity