North Korea to Convene Party Plenary Meeting on 19th: Discussion and Decision on Strengthening Party Combat Power (Comprehensive)

Decision to Convene the 7th Central Committee 6th Plenary Meeting
Possibility of Dual Response Policy to Flood Damage and COVID-19
Recent Organizational Restructuring Announcement... Specific Details Expected
Last Year's 5th Meeting Declared a 'Direct Breakthrough Battle'

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un held a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting on the 13th to discuss flood recovery measures, according to Korean Central Television on the 14th. Chairman Kim is raising his hand to express his opinion.

North Korea announced on the 19th that it will hold a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party to discuss strengthening the Party's combat capabilities. Given the recent damage caused by floods and the serious situation of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), flood recovery and quarantine measures are expected to be the main agenda items.

On the 18th, North Korea's state media, Korean Central News Agency, reported, "The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party has decided to convene the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party on the 19th to discuss and decide on issues of great significance for the development of our revolution and the strengthening of the Party's combat capabilities."

The agency stated, "A decision by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party related to this was announced on the 17th," but did not disclose specific details such as the agenda on strengthening combat capabilities.

This is the first time in about eight months since December last year that North Korea has convened a Party plenary meeting. Amid the prolonged deadlock in North Korea-US denuclearization talks, North Korea held the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee and declared a 'direct breakthrough battle.' By accepting the deadlock in negotiations and the prolonged sanctions against North Korea as a fait accompli, it made clear its intention to advance the development of nuclear and strategic weapons and to overcome economic difficulties independently.

However, this 6th meeting is expected to focus on organizational restructuring and resolving livelihood difficulties. In particular, it is likely to decide on issues discussed at the Party Political Bureau meetings and the Administrative Council meetings held earlier this year.

Earlier, on the 5th, at the Party Administrative Council meeting, North Korea studied and discussed the issue of establishing new departments within the Central Committee and fundamentally improving the personnel management system. Then, on the 13th, it held a Political Bureau meeting to review and decide on the establishment of new departments within the Central Committee and outlined their functions and roles.

In particular, the meeting emphasized that the newly established departments "will protect the dignity and interests of the state and the people and ensure the maintenance of political stability and order in society." This is why it is anticipated that the organizational restructuring and roles of the Central Committee will be specifically revealed at this plenary meeting.

On the 17th, Rodong Sinmun reported on its front page that medical supplies sent by Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, to the Unpa County People's Hospital in Hwanghaebuk Province and the residents of Daecheong-ri, Unpa County, arrived at the county seat on the 15th. At the site, Gung Hye-young, Party Committee Chair of Unpa County, read the message of delivery. The photo shows residents wearing masks cheering and clapping while looking at the gift boxes.

Amid prolonged sanctions against North Korea, compounded by the COVID-19 crisis and flood damage, worsening food shortages and economic difficulties, various measures are expected to be introduced to correct the deteriorated ideological laxity and disorder and to strengthen internal unity.

In particular, since flood and COVID-19 response issues were intensively discussed at the Political Bureau meeting, livelihood issues are also expected to be addressed. On the 13th, Chairman Kim Jong Un presided over the Party Political Bureau meeting, defining the flood and COVID-19 as "two crises" and ordering swift countermeasures.

He said, "The situation and suffering of flood victims who have lost their homes and property and are living in temporary shelters must be beyond words," adding, "At a time like this, it is our Party, not anyone else, that must take full responsibility for them, share the hardships the people are experiencing, and come closer to them to alleviate their suffering."

The deadline for flood recovery was set as October 10, the anniversary of the Party's founding. Chairman Kim stated, "We cannot allow flood victims to face the 75th anniversary of the Party's founding while homeless," proposing that the major flood damage recovery be basically completed by October 10 and that the immediate struggle tasks to settle residents be reflected in the Political Bureau's decision and joint orders from the Party Central Committee, Central Military Commission, and State Affairs Commission.

Although North Korea is focusing on constructing large buildings such as the Pyongyang General Hospital to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Party's founding this year, there is also speculation that the focus may shift to construction necessary for residents' lives, such as housing, in light of the flood damage.

The COVID-19 situation was also addressed again as a major agenda item. Chairman Kim discussed the COVID-19 situation at the Political Bureau meetings in February, April, July, and August this year, which is unusual to have the same issue raised so frequently and consistently discussed.

North Korea is expected to continue closing its borders to prevent COVID-19. Chairman Kim emphasized, "Tightly close the borders and strictly carry out quarantine work."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.