Veiled 'North Korea 8th Party Congress'... Whether It Will Be Held Likely to Be Revealed by Night of the Day (Comprehensive)

Non-Reporting and Retroactive Disclosure of Pre-Party Congress Procedures
Different from the 7th Party Congress in 2016

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un sent a handwritten New Year's greeting card to all residents to mark the beginning of 2021, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 1st. This is the first time since 1995, when Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il did so, that the top leader of North Korea has sent a New Year's card to all residents.

On the 4th, which was anticipated as the likely date for the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, North Korea had not disclosed whether the congress would be held even by the morning of that day. Unlike previous party congresses, there appears to be an effort to conceal preliminary information related to the congress, drawing attention to the background of this approach.

According to the Ministry of Unification on the 4th, North Korea had specifically disclosed information related to the congress during the 7th Congress held from May 6 to 9, 2016.

Twenty-three days before the 7th Congress, on April 13, 2016, North Korea announced the holding of city and county party representative meetings. Then, from April 14 to 25, provincial (and directly governed city) level party representative meetings were held, during which Kim was nominated as a representative to the 7th Congress.

They also disclosed the exact date of the congress. Ten days before the opening, on April 26, 2016, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party announced through a decision that "the 7th Congress will be held in Pyongyang in May 2016." Subsequently, on May 2, it was announced that the representatives of the 7th Congress had arrived in Pyongyang, and on May 6, the congress was held as scheduled with Kim’s opening speech.

In contrast, ahead of the 8th Congress, such developments have been omitted or reported belatedly. Unlike the 7th Congress, North Korea conducted the selection of party congress representatives internally without reporting the process and later retroactively reported on the representative meetings of party organizations at various levels held in December.

Regarding the date of the congress, only a plan to hold the congress "in early January (between January 1 and 10)" was announced at the Political Bureau meeting on December 29.

An official from the Ministry of Unification explained, "This congress shows new changes such as ▲non-reporting and retroactive disclosure of preliminary procedures, ▲announcement of the opening in 'early January' (without specifying the exact date), and the holding of a 'party membership card awarding ceremony' event."

Whether the congress will be held is expected to be known only by the night of the day itself.

The Ministry of Unification official said, "During the 7th Congress in 2016, the opening news was recorded and broadcast on the night of the opening day (on Korean Central TV and Korean Central Broadcasting). Major media such as the Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun reported the related news the following morning." Korean Central TV and Korean Central Broadcasting aired the first day meeting of the 7th Congress for 30 minutes from 22:00 to 22:30 (Korean time 22:30 to 23:00).

On the first day of the new year, citizens are paying their respects at the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il at Mansudae in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Meanwhile, North Korean media on the 4th omitted specific reports about the congress date and focused on creating an internal atmosphere.

The Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun, in a page 4 article titled "Tighten the Shoelaces of the Mind Even More," only hinted that the congress was imminent by stating "at the point ahead of the 8th Congress." Instead, it devoted considerable space to urging vigilance in the "emergency anti-epidemic battle" against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and repeatedly emphasizing loyalty to Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea.

On the front page, under the headline "A Fiery Oath of Conviction Filling the Whole Country," the newspaper stated, "The resolute will of ten million people is to make this meaningful year, when the 8th Congress of the Party is held under the leadership of the Marshal, a victorious year to be recorded in the annals of the homeland." On page 2, in an article titled "With Indomitable Spirit, Vigorously Forward Toward New Victories!" it referenced a handwritten letter from Kim to all residents, saying, "Our people will once again unleash the invincible spirit, forged a thousand and one times, to demonstrate the dignity and grandeur of the homeland to the whole world."

Additionally, thorough preparation against COVID-19 was urged. The newspaper stated, "All members must be maximally vigilant and proactive in responding to the global health crisis," and emphasized, "Especially during commuting times and when using public transportation, wearing masks, hand sanitizing, and social distancing must be strictly ensured without any small gaps that could hinder emergency anti-epidemic work."

The Ministry of Unification forecasted, "Considering the emergency anti-epidemic situation, this congress is expected to last 3 to 4 days." Taking into account Kim’s birthday (January 8), it is anticipated that the congress will be held around the 4th or 5th. The government is closely monitoring developments and paying particular attention to the agenda and messages of the congress. The Ministry of Unification stated that special attention should be given to whether the 8th Congress will include ▲the elevation and strengthening of Kim Jong Un’s status, ▲the presentation of a new five-year economic development plan under the principle of self-reliance, and ▲the issuance of inter-Korean dialogue proposals or other messages directed at the South.

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