North Korea's 'Cadre Revolution' Amidst Choe Ryong-hae's Endurance... Presides Over Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, emphasized a 'cadre revolution' and carried out a reshuffle of cadres including members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee, while Choe Ryong-hae, Standing Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly and second in rank, retained his position.

Korean Central News Agency reported on the 2nd, "The 15th plenary meeting of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee was held on the 1st at the Mansudae Assembly Hall," adding, "Comrade Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee, presided over the plenary meeting." The Supreme People's Assembly corresponds to the National Assembly in South Korea.

With the fact that Chairman Choe is still in office becoming known, the scope of the Political Bureau Standing Committee members dismissed at the expanded meeting of the Party Political Bureau on the 29th of last month has been further narrowed. North Korea stated at the expanded Political Bureau meeting that a serious incident occurred due to the negligence (taegong) of responsible cadres and carried out a reshuffle of cadres including Political Bureau Standing Committee members, members, and candidate members. However, the exact personnel details were not disclosed.

Later, in footage of the meeting released by Korean Central Television, Vice Chairman of the Political Bureau Standing Committee Ri Pyong-chol and Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Political Bureau member Pak Jong-chon, were seen bowing their heads without raising their hands during a vote, suggesting that they were targets of the reshuffle.

At the meeting, the Metal Industry Law, Chemical Industry Law, Machinery Industry Law, the adoption of the Narcotics Crime Prevention Law, and the amendment and supplementation (revision) of the Ginseng Law were submitted as agenda items and adopted unanimously. The news agency explained, "These provisions establish systems and order for the production, supply, sale, and condition guarantee business of metal, chemical, and machinery products to thoroughly implement the state's economic development strategy and economic policies, and to prevent illegal acts that harm the stability of the state social system and the life and health of the people in advance." The Ginseng Law was revised to specify ginseng regulations and impose criminal liability.

The law amendments appear to be for the implementation of tasks from the previously held Party Congress and Central Committee plenary meetings. The news agency stated, "The plenary meeting emphasized the need to legally guarantee the implementation of tasks presented at the Party Congress and Central Committee plenary meetings by intensifying legal struggles."

Professor Yang Mu-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "This meeting is not only about the lax discipline of Party cadres but also aims to break the chain of corruption in all processes from production, distribution, to sales in key national industries such as metal, chemical, and machinery industries," adding, "This issue was pointed out at the Party plenary meeting, and as a follow-up measure, it seems that law amendments inserting provisions for preventing illegal acts and punishment were carried out."

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