North Korea: "People's Army Strengthened as a More Advanced and Modern Military"

Day 7 of North Korea's 8th Party Congress... Sectoral Consultations Underway
Drafting of Resolutions on Military, Science, Agriculture, and More

North Korea continued the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party for the seventh day, and on the 11th, held sectoral consultations on military, industry, and agriculture, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 12th.

North Korea held sectoral consultations on the 7th day of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party, covering military, industrial, and agricultural sectors. A resolution is expected to be adopted as early as the 12th.

The North Korean state media, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported on the 12th that "sectoral consultations of the 8th Party Congress were held on January 11," and that "research on the draft resolution to thoroughly implement the tasks presented in the report on the work of the Party Central Committee has begun."

The agency explained, "In the economic front, the Cabinet, as the country's economic command center, properly undertook the Cabinet responsibility system and Cabinet-centered system, vigorously promoted work to strengthen the main lifeline and continuity of the national economy, and discussed urgent issues in improving economic management."

The consultations were divided by sectors including industry, agriculture, light industry, education, health, culture, military, military industry, and Party and labor organizations. The sectoral consultations were led by Politburo Standing Committee members Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, Jo Yong-won, Secretary of the Workers' Party, Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, and Kim Tok-hun, Premier of the Cabinet.

In the military and military industry sectors, the strengthening of national defense was emphasized as a "solid guarantee for safeguarding safety and peace," highlighting the development of the defense industry.

KCNA stated, "Opinions were put forward to firmly prepare the army as a revolutionary Party army under the Workers' Party of Korea, a modernized advanced army, and a reliable protector of our state and people, and to realize the grand plan of the Party Central Committee to dramatically strengthen and develop the defense industry."

Various topics were also discussed in economic sectors such as agriculture and industry.

In the industrial sector, discussions focused on concentrated investment in the metal and chemical industries and normalization of key industrial production, while in agriculture, scientific farming, reclamation of tidal flats, and agricultural mechanization were on the agenda.

In the light industry sector, practical measures were discussed to improve product quality through localization of raw materials, recycling, and modernization, and to increase production of consumer goods by focusing on new product development.

Furthermore, KCNA reported, "In accordance with the Party's intentions, the promotion of scientific and technological development was thoroughly considered, including the realistic feasibility of the scientific and technological development goals and implementation methods for each sector to be achieved during the new five-year plan period."

Additionally, in the education sector, "progressive opinions were raised to continuously renew educational content, methods, and teaching management systems in line with global educational development trends and pedagogical demands; to strengthen the material and technical foundation of the health sector to develop socialist health care; to firmly establish a quarantine system capable of responding to any global health crisis; and to bring about a revolution in literature, arts, publishing, reporting, and sports sectors, contributing to opening a new era of socialist culture."

North Korea continued the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party for the seventh day, and on the 11th, held sectoral meetings on military, industry, and agriculture, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 12th.

Although the report did not mention that the congress "continues," it appears that the congress will proceed on the 8th day, the 12th. North Korea concluded the 7th Party Congress in four days back in 2016.

Im Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, said, "The draft resolution will soon be prepared, and the resolution is expected to be adopted as early as the 8th day, the 12th." He added, "A congress of this length indicates that implementing the decisions of the Party Congress is more important and urgent for North Korea than ever."

Meanwhile, KCNA drew attention by naming Jo Yong-won, Party Secretary, second after Choe Ryong-hae when reporting on the consultations. In the Politburo Standing Committee ranking announced the previous day, Jo Yong-won was named last among the five members, leading to interpretations that he ranks 5th in power hierarchy. Professor Im said, "It remains to be seen whether this means he has risen to 3rd in the power hierarchy."

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