Bonghwa Political College – A Direct North Korean Threat to South Korean Human Rights

By Robert Collins, HRNK Author and Senior Advisor

Edited by Greg Scarlatoiu, HRNK President and CEO

Denying the human rights of 50 million-plus people living in a different state is an enormous undertaking, not easily accomplished. It could be achieved over a comparatively short period through conducting a large-scale war or over a long period of time employing a variety of operational strategies that complement each other for effect. Although North Korea prepares for war under its preferred conditions, the Kim regime threatens Republic of Korea (hereafter South Korea) citizens’ human rights through a variety of strategies and actions, including localized physical attacks, political maneuvering at the national and local levels, abductions, assassinations, and espionage. 

Most of the operations targeting South Koreans are conducted by North Korean spies who are well trained. One of the primary training institutes for these spies is the Bonghwa Political College. Formerly known as the "686 Training Center," "Keumgang Academy," and "Kumsong Political and Military University,” the name “Bonghwa Political College” became the new designation in 1992. This school is a sub-organization of Kim Jong-il Political-Military University (KJIPMU) which also trains spy agents, some during five-year courses. The KJIPMU is associated with the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) – North Korea’s senior military intelligence organization. The RGB’s designation for Bonghwa is the 110^th Liaison Station.

Along with Bonghwa, most of North Korea’s most trusted agents for anti-South Korean operations are trained at the KJIPMU. These two schools are known for producing 100-200 agents for infiltration into South Korea annually. KJIPMU, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 1992, became the first North Korean educational institution to bear Kim Jong-il's name. KJIPMU’s curriculum reportedly consists of 40% ideological education, including the revolutionary history of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, 40% physical training required for combat, such as shooting and martial arts, and 20% technical training, such as photography and driving. These spy students are regarded as combatants and their training reflects that. 

Curriculums at Bonghwa focus on political ideology education, underground party construction theory, intelligence, topography, the psychology of enemy activities, foreign languages, South Korean and international affairs, illegal activity tactics, swimming, diving, driving, and locksmithing. Overall programs vary from one, two to three years. One’s personal background determines the length of their program attendance.

Bonghwa trains both men and women spy agents. Women’s courses generally require less training time due to fewer requirements related to combat skills and overseas subjects. It also educates agents in need of retraining.

Military tactics and training are known to include guerrilla warfare, raids, ambushes, assassinations, kidnappings, combat team training, and handling various military equipment. Guerrilla warfare refers to mountain and urban guerrilla warfare, aimed to establish a second front in the rear in times of emergency. 

Raid training involves ambushing specific targets unexpectedly, assassinating, kidnapping, or terrorizing large groups with small groups. Combat team training involves two to three members forming a unit to conduct training in key facility demolition, military reconnaissance, liaison work between fixed spies, guidance to specific locations, support for operations equipment, assassinations, and kidnappings. Handling various military equipment refers to handling various land-based transportation methods and the ability to fire weapons ranging from very small pistols to non-reactive artillery. 

Maritime tactical training includes navigation, engine operation, communications, underwater demolitions, and underwater diving. Navigational tactical training encompasses navigational techniques that allow a ship to reach its intended destination accurately, including military-related aspects like navigating, engine operation, and the ability to communicate effectively with ships, enabling independent mission execution. Typically, anyone who has graduated from a military academy can operate vessels between 5 and 200 tons independently. 

Meanwhile, after Kim Jong-il took command of operations against South Korea in 1979, he began demanding both mental and physical strength from his combatants. Indeed, during that year, three combatants infiltrated South Korea, but were caught by a lumberjack and held by the South Korean military for over ten days. However, the three men managed to escape and returned safely to North Korea. 

At a meeting with these three fighters, Kim Jong Il said, “The reason these comrades were able to return this time is because they had great loyalty to the party and had iron-like stamina,” and added, “All fighters must strengthen their training and acquire the ability to cover 40-80 kilometers in one night.” It is not clear whether the trainees actually manage to run for up to 80 kilometers a night, as instructed by the late leader. But one sure thing is that they are thoroughly trained as long-distance runners over rough terrain.

From that point on, combatants began undergoing rigorous marching training, carrying sand backpacks weighing over 20 kilograms daily. Initially, agents were not subjected to this training. Their primary responsibilities were fixed espionage, and the environment for intelligence activities was inherently free social life. Furthermore, their primary activities involved data collection and recruiting individuals, so there was no compelling reason to march. However, starting in 1984, they too were forced to march. 

The reason was an incident that took place that year. That fall, North Korean agents operating in Nepal and other places were exposed and forced to return to North Korea without their passports or funds. They endured 40 days of hardship, marching across three borders, including the Chinese border, and finally returned to North Korea. They were later hailed as heroes and met with Kim Jong-il. 

At this meeting, Kim Jong-il also ordered his agents to intensify their marching. From this point on, North Korean agents, as well as those traveling overseas and taking short breaks, were required to run 4 kilometers daily, 20 kilometers on weekends, and 40 kilometers at the end of each month. After completing this rigorous training at these spy institutions, North Korean agents for South Korean operations become 100% employed in RGB-related operations departments and other organizations. Even students who drop out due to poor health are known to be so skilled and qualified that they are often hired as instructors in the KWP's county-level committees. 

However, the curriculums at Bonghwa and KJIPMU go far beyond that in a very lethal way. Beyond political ideology that North Koreans of all occupations must study, Bonghwa Political College students must focus on becoming elite warriors willing to sacrifice themselves to the death for the sake of the Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP).  To this effect, Kim Jong-il introduced the concept of “self-destruction” into the curriculum. 

Specific curriculum begins with routine political ideology education, teaching students to be elite warriors who are prepared to sacrifice their bodies for the Party and the leader. In fact, after Kim Jong-il took control of operations against South Korea, he incorporated "self-destruction" into the curriculum. Whether combatants or agents, they are required to learn "self-destruction." An example of this is the "Philosophy Textbook." This book, consisting of five chapters and 21 sections, is divided into the following chapters: 

·      Chapter 1: What is Philosophy? 

·      Chapter 2: Juche's Revolutionary Worldview

·      Chapter 3: Juche's Revolutionary View of the Leader

·      Chapter 4: Juche's Revolutionary Outlook on Life 

·      Chapter 5: Revolutionary View of Self-Destruction

At military universities such as Bonghwa, students are taught this content starting from their first year. It is said that after completing this course, intelligence agents come to regard self-destruction to be "as simple as going to the neighbor's house to fetch water." Military training focuses on fundamental discipline, with an average 3rd to 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo. Swimmers are trained to survive in the ocean or rivers for a long time, with emphasis on high-endurance, long-distance swimming. They must also be able to run for up to six hours, regardless of terrain.

Upon graduation, these Bonghwa-trained North Korean spies are deployed and live independently in South Korea, in nation-states that are perceived as enemies such as Japan and the United States (or adjacent countries), and in other countries that have influence on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Once at their espionage posting, they conduct intelligence gathering, underground organization construction, and subversive activities – all aimed at undermining the South Korean government or pro-South Korean political movements. Due to the methodology and consequences of these activities, there is a direct and negative impact on the human rights of South Korean citizens, as well as Koreans living overseas who are pro-South Korea. Considering the training received by graduates of Bonghwa and KJIPMU, the average South Korean has little capability to counter the threats to their individual human rights. 

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REFERENCES

Kim Pil-jae, “North Korea's Political University is a "suicide university," newdaily.co.kr, December 30, 2010. URL: https://www.newdaily.co.kr/site/data/html/2010/12/30/2010123000059.html.

Son Kwang-ju, Kim Jong-il Report - Everything About Kim Jong-il, North Korea's Supreme Leader (Pada Publishing; 2003); pp.431.

Namu Wiki, Kim Jong Il Political Military University, February 27, 2026. URL: https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B9%80%EC%A0%95%EC%9D%BC%EA%B5%B0%EC%A0%95%EB%8C%80%ED%95%99?from=%EA%B9%80%EC%A0%95%EC%9D%BC%EC%A0%95%EC%B9%98%EA%B5%B0%EC%82%AC%EB%8C%80%ED%95%99#s-6.

 

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