[Yonhap News Photo]
Fearing a possible attempt to "decapitate", North Korean leader prefers Lexus, a luxury sedan produced by Japanese carmaker Toyota, to his official Benz 600 limousine for his trips to provincial areas, South Korea's spy agency said.
The National Intelligence Service said in a report to parliament that Kim has strengthened security to save his life, using a Lexus sedan which has been distributed to cadres when he visits provincial areas.
Kim is keen to collect intelligence on alleged operations by US and South Koreans troops to "decapitate" the North's leadership, lawmakers briefed reporters after participating in the closed session of a parliamentary intelligence committee.
In January, South Korea's defense ministry disclosed its plan to form a special army brigade aimed at decapitating North Korea's leadership. The brigade would carry out its contingency mission in Pyongyang to "decapitate" North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and other top commanders in charge of nuclear weapons.
Last year, US and South Korean troops tested a joint operational scheme called "Operations Plan(OPLAN) 5015" to test preemptive attacks targeting North Korea's leadership. In response, Pyongyang has threatened to strike Seoul's presidential office as the first subject of retaliation for any attempts to decapitate its leadership.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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