Kim Jong Un's Expanded Meeting of the Party Secretariat, Decision on the 7th Nuclear Test

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, held an expanded meeting of the Party Secretariat to discuss plans for reorganizing the Party Central Committee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 28th that General Secretary Kim presided over the expanded Secretariat meeting at the Party Central Committee headquarters the previous day.

The agency stated that the meeting discussed “issues related to improving and reorganizing the work systems of party leadership bodies at all levels and strengthening political activities, revising some departments and organizations of the Party Central Committee, and introducing a new system to enhance guidance and support for the work of provincial party committees.”

Additionally, “issues concerning improving the Party’s general affairs regulations and the management system for confidential documents, strengthening policy guidance in the security, safety, judicial, and prosecution sectors, and organizing and carrying out necessary tasks within this year” were deliberated.

Furthermore, KCNA reported that “important party business issues were discussed, including establishing a new learning system to improve the political and practical capabilities of party organization cadres at all levels, and emphasizing and strengthening the work of labor organizations throughout the party.”

The agency also noted that “General Secretary Kim made important conclusions regarding the duties and immediate tasks of the Party Central Committee departments, the main principles and tasks to be upheld in party political activities throughout the party, and the methods to be followed,” but did not provide specific details.

General Secretary Kim convened another Secretariat meeting just two weeks after holding one on the 12th to tighten discipline among cadres, which appears to indicate an intention to thoroughly reorganize the party system.

In diplomatic circles, this move is interpreted as Kim’s effort to tighten party and organizational discipline ahead of a decision on the 7th nuclear test.

Previously, from the 21st to the 23rd, North Korea held an expanded meeting of the Party Central Military Commission, where it decided on major defense policies including strengthening war deterrence capabilities, adding operational missions for frontline units, and reorganizing military structures.

Although North Korea did not issue a public message regarding the 7th nuclear test at this meeting, there is speculation that related matters were approved in a closed session.

It is also analyzed that North Korea assigned related tasks and revised unit organization and wartime operational plans to deploy and operate tactical nuclear weapons at the forefront as part of additional important military action plans.

The South Korean government also views the 7th nuclear test as a matter of time. On the 27th, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said at a luncheon hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club (SFCC) that regarding the specific timing of the 7th nuclear test, which is “physically prepared,” “to summarize in one sentence, all preparations are complete and only the political decision remains.”

He added, “It is unclear why North Korea has not yet proceeded with the nuclear test, but North Korea is likely observing domestic and international situations to maximize the effects of the nuclear test.”

He further assessed, “Judging from North Korea’s nuclear weapons development trend, it seems that North Korea wants to have offensive capabilities against both the United States and the Republic of Korea simultaneously.”

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