National Intelligence Service

North Korea: fears of a new famine after three years of COVID isolation and harsh repression

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 16, 2023

All except in one country: North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Key Points: 
  • All except in one country: North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
  • In January 2020, Kim Jong-un decided to isolate the entire country from the outside world in response to COVID.
  • And in June 2023, the DPRK remains closed except for trade with China.
  • But instead of opening the borders, Kim urged his people to stay strong in the face of “tremendous challenges” of COVID.

Inside information

    • But because it is so difficult to get information from inside North Korea, it is hard to assess just how bad the situation has become.
    • Former information sources – such as diplomats and aid workers – have been shut out.
    • Another informal way of getting up-to-date information (albeit limited) – from defectors’ families, when confirming receipt of remittances – has become more limited.
    • While lacking adequate triangulation methods for the information, we can confirm inside information only partially.

Why don’t the people rise up?

    • They spoke of rising disaffection with the regime, but also said that the level of fear of informers was such that nobody dared speak openly, let alone protest or even petition for reform.
    • People at the top have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are.
    • There is hope that North Korea will reopen its borders in 2023, such is the need for trade and foreign currency.

Kenya's new spy chief will lead the national intelligence service – what the job is all about

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 10, 2023

But what is national intelligence and what work does it do, particularly in Kenya?

Key Points: 
  • But what is national intelligence and what work does it do, particularly in Kenya?
  • Legislators will either approve or reject his nomination to the National Intelligence Service as director-general.
  • In my view as a political scientist who has studied Kenya’s counter-terrorism policies and strategies, Haji could improve civilian oversight and accountability in the intelligence service.

What is intelligence?

    • Intelligence services are state agencies that produce reports to help maintain national security.
    • By providing reliable information about potential threats to national security, intelligence agencies contribute to peace and stability.
    • Kenya’s National Intelligence Service has three primary divisions responsible for these different kinds of information.

What are the functions of intelligence?

    • The National Intelligence Service functions to detect actual and potential national security threats.
    • The intelligence service provides confidential security reports on people who apply for state positions that require vetting.
    • This means it is not legally permitted to carry out police functions, such as search, arrest and prosecution.
    • In such cases, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which falls under the National Police Service, investigates and sets the appropriate charge.

How is intelligence gathered?


    This is done through a process known as the intelligence cycle. It includes:
    • Kenya’s National Intelligence Service gathers information by working with individuals and organisations.
    • It also cooperates with foreign governments and intelligence agencies, such as the MI5 in the UK.

Going forward


    During his vetting, Haji listed several proposals to make the service more accountable and efficient. They included:
    In my view, such efforts could succeed if the country’s leadership commits to them. The state needs to give the service the financial, technological and human resources it requires to be more autonomous.