North Korea Specifies Strengthening Defense Capabilities in Party Rules... Revival of Secretary System After 5 Years

Adoption of the Decision on the Amendment of the Party Rules at the 8th Labor Party Congress

On the 9th, the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea held discussions on the summary of the Central Committee's work, the summary of the Central Inspection Commission's work, and amendments to the Party Charter, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 10th.
The photo shows Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission (from the left), Kim Jong-un, Party Chairman, and Choe Ryong-hae, First Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission.
Photo by Yonhap News

North Korea revised the Workers' Party charter at the 8th Party Congress to specify the strengthening of national defense capabilities and revived the secretary system.

On the 10th, North Korea's state media, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that a decision on the amendment of the Party charter was adopted at the Party Congress, stating that "(in the preface) content was supplemented regarding the continuous strengthening of the Republic's armed forces politically, ideologically, and militarily."

In particular, KCNA conveyed that the Party charter clearly states "the task of the struggle for national reunification includes suppressing fundamental military threats with strong national defense power to safeguard stability and a peaceful environment on the Korean Peninsula."

The previous preface of the Party charter only mentioned Chairman Kim Jong Un's achievements in "strengthening self-defensive war deterrence," without explicitly stating the goal of strengthening national defense, but it appears this has now been added.

While emphasizing the strengthening of national defense, it also clarified that the military is under the Party's leadership.

KCNA stated, "The People's Army is the revolutionary armed force of the Workers' Party of Korea that defends and protects the socialist homeland, the Party, and the revolution with arms, and takes the lead in upholding the Party's leadership."

North Korea abolished the Party Political Bureau five years ago but has now revived the Secretariat and efficiently reorganized Party organs and meeting procedures.

KCNA reported, "The titles of chairmen and vice-chairmen of Party committees at all levels have been changed to chief secretary, secretary, and deputy secretary, and the Political Bureau has been renamed the Secretariat, and the Political Affairs Department has been renamed the Secretariat Department." This marks a return to the previous system after five years.

The Standing Committee of the Party Political Bureau will decide on urgent and important political, economic, and military issues and discuss appointments and dismissals of key national officials.

Notably, Standing Committee members of the Political Bureau are authorized to preside over meetings. As a result, Party Political Bureau meetings can be held without Chairman Kim Jong Un directly presiding, as is currently the case.

Accordingly, there is cautious speculation that the current five-member Standing Committee may be expanded to include Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, the Party's First Deputy Department Director.

On the 9th, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 10th that the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea held discussions on the summary of work of the Party Central Committee, the summary of work of the Party Central Inspection Commission, and amendments to the Party Charter.
The photo shows the meeting on the 5th day of the Party Congress.

Additionally, the Party Inspection Committee was abolished, and its functions transferred to the Party Central Inspection Commission, which will oversee not only financial management but also supervision of violations of Party discipline and handling of complaints and petitions.

The threshold for Party membership was raised, and control was strengthened.

The candidate member period was extended from one year to two years, and a new criterion for expulsion was added: "Party members who fail to fulfill their duties for more than three years."

New provisions were also included to issue warnings, severe warnings, and political sanctions to Party members and organizations that do not comply with Party discipline.

The Party Congress added that it will convene once every five years, with announcements made several months in advance. The Party Cell Secretary Conference and the Junior Party Secretary Conference will also be held every five years.

Furthermore, Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Juche ideology was further emphasized, and the politics of putting the masses first was formally established as the basic socialist political method.

North Korea has been holding the 8th Party Congress since the 5th, and by the previous day, it had completed three of the four agenda items: ▲ summary of the Party Central Committee's work ▲ summary of the Party Central Inspection Commission's work ▲ amendment of the Party charter.

Only the election of the Party Central leadership organs remains, leading to speculation that the Party Congress will conclude within a day or two.

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