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How Would You Become One Of Kim Jong-un's Running Bodyguards?

How Would You Become One Of Kim Jong-un's Running Bodyguards?

Kim Jong-un's running bodyguards are a sight to behold - but why are they running? And what does one have to do to get the job?

Mike Wood

Mike Wood

Whenever you see footage of Kim Jong-un in a car, then you can guarantee that you'll see a whole group of blokes in suits running alongside the North Korean Supreme Leader - check it out in the video below:

Black suits, ties flapping in the wind, inexplicably never out of breath: these guys are unique and, frankly, quite puzzling. Why is it necessary for them to run alongside the car?

You never see the President of the United States' Secret Service detachment taking a leisurely job alongside The Donald, while the idea of the Queen's security detail puffing along with her carriage is even sillier.

As Kim and Donald prepare to meet in Singapore this week, the spotlight has again shone on these high-security joggers, with questions being asked as to just who they are, and what they're doing.

PA

Well, believe it or not, this is one of the few questions relating to politics in North Korea that does have something approximating an answer.

According to the BBC, they're a special detachment from what is known as Central Party Office #6 - or to give it its Sunday name, The Main Office of Adjutants.

To reach this level of proximity to Kim, one must be male and a soldier in the Korean People's Army, and then stand out to superiors as being particularly good at your job. They are trained in vital skills such as martial arts and marksmanship and tested physically.

PA

All what you might expect, to be honest. Soldiers, good at soldiering, fit, able, handy with guns. They're the guys you want doing your security. Probably similar qualifications to what you'd need to get into the Secret Service.

This being North Korea, of course, things do get a little more complex. They have to be the same height as the Dear Leader - no, we don't know why either - and also have no visible impairments. Presumably Kim doesn't like to be surrounded by ugly blokes.

In North Korea's security elite, there are also other concerns. Family background is taken into account, with party loyalty tested back across two generations, and relatives of the Kim family and other prominent families preferred.

PA

It does make sense, in fairness - these are some of the only people allowed to carry guns near the Leader, and presumably he'd want to make sure that they don't snap and shoot him.

All this is well and good, but why do they run? That we're not sure of, but probably just to keep as close as possible at all times.

There are actually an extra two layers of security before you even get to the joggers - hey, when you're a world leader, you can't be too careful.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, kim jong-un, North Korea