'Naengmyeon Mokgumeong' Ri Seon-gwon and 'Nuclear Development' Ri Byong-cheol State Affairs Commission Members
Ri Su-yong, Ri Yong-ho, Tae Jong-su, Choe Bu-il, etc. Confirmed Dismissal
Budget Increased by 6% Compared to Previous Year, Focused Allocation on Science, Technology, and Economy
The 3rd session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on the 12th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 13th.
North Korea held the Supreme People's Assembly, which is equivalent to South Korea's regular National Assembly, made minor personnel changes, and reaffirmed its 'frontline breakthrough' policy. Additionally, it finalized this year's budget, including an increase in health expenditure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the 13th, North Korea's state media, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported, "The 3rd session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly was held on the 12th at the Mansudae Assembly Hall."
First, the appointment of State Affairs Commission members stands out. The agency announced that as a result of the meeting, Ri Son-gwon and Kim Hyong-jun were appointed as members of the State Affairs Commission.
This means that the core diplomatic line, reorganized through the Workers' Party plenary meeting at the end of last year, has entered the State Affairs Commission.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Ri Son-gwon succeeded Ri Yong-ho as Foreign Minister. With his election as a candidate member of the Party Political Bureau and then as a State Affairs Commission member, Ri Son-gwon is interpreted to have been granted all ex officio positions associated with the Foreign Minister appointment.
Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee in charge of military affairs, along with Kim Jong-ho (Minister of People's Security) and Kim Jong-kwan (Minister of People's Armed Forces), also joined the State Affairs Commission.
Ri Pyong-chol is a key figure who has led the development of weapons, including nuclear arms, under the Kim Jong-un regime. This personnel change appears to reflect an evaluation of tactical weapons that North Korea has focused on developing and test-firing since the no-deal outcome of the Hanoi North Korea-U.S. summit last year.
Choe Son-hui, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, was not specifically named but was seen seated on the presidium, suggesting she retains her position, possibly as a State Affairs Commission member.
With the new appointments to the State Affairs Commission, Ri Su-yong (former International Affairs), Tae Jong-su (former military affairs), Ri Yong-ho (former Foreign Minister), Choe Pu-il (former Minister of People's Security), and No Kwang-chol (former Minister of People's Armed Forces) were dismissed from the commission.
Additionally, the meeting appointed Yang Seung-ho as Deputy Premier of the Cabinet, and Kim Chol-soo, Kim Jong-nam, and Ri Sung-hak were appointed as Ministers of Resource Development, Machinery Industry, and Light Industry, respectively, according to KCNA.
North Korea held the 3rd session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly on the 12th at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 687 delegates elected from across the country attended the meeting.
The meeting also approved this year's national budget. The budget for health was increased in response to the COVID-19 situation.
KCNA reported that the health sector budget rose to 7.4%, a larger increase compared to last year's 5.8%, stating, "Funds necessary for the construction of the Pyongyang General Hospital will be guaranteed as planned."
Overall national budget expenditure increased by 6% compared to last year, and funds necessary for economic construction rose by 6.2%, accounting for 47.8% of total expenditure.
Expenditures for people's economy sectors such as metal, electricity, light industry, agriculture, and fisheries were increased by 7.2%, science and technology by 9.5%, and education by 5.1%. Defense spending was reported to account for 15.9% of the total national budget expenditure.
Furthermore, the meeting adopted a Remote Education Law, which appears to be an extension of measures emphasizing science education for talent development.
In addition, a Recycling Law, seemingly related to resource reutilization, was adopted amid calls to mobilize all available internal resources in response to sanctions.
Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, who is not a delegate, did not attend this meeting. Chairman Kim delivered his first policy speech since taking power at the 1st session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly on April 12 last year. At that time, he issued external messages, including expressing willingness to hold a third summit with the United States, which drew attention, but he was absent this time.
It is analyzed that since Chairman Kim had already declared the 'frontline breakthrough battle' at the 5th plenary meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party at the end of last year, there was no need for him to reiterate it personally.
Instead, attendees at this meeting emphasized 'frontline breakthrough' and 'self-reliance,' reaffirming the policy stressed by Chairman Kim.
KCNA stated, "The discussants expressed their determination to fulfill their responsibilities and roles before the Party and the revolution in the grand creative struggle to break through all obstacles hindering our progress and to open a great upsurge in socialist construction, in line with the demands of the frontline breakthrough battle presented by the 5th plenary meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Party."
KCNA also emphasized the significance of this meeting, saying, "By thoroughly implementing Comrade Kim Jong-un's outstanding frontline breakthrough ideology, strategy, and practical guidelines in state activities, and by comprehensively strengthening our Juche power and internal driving force, this will be an important occasion to glorify the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea as a grand political festival in the history of the homeland and to further accelerate the pace of our revolution's advance."
North Korean media reported on the 13th that at the 3rd session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on the 12th, Ri Son-gwon, Kim Hyong-jun, Ri Pyong-chol, Kim Jong-ho, and Kim Jong-kwan were appointed as State Affairs Commission members. In the photo on the Rodong Sinmun website, from left to right in the top row are Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party in charge of military affairs; Kim Hyong-jun, Vice Chairman of the Party in charge of international affairs; Kim Jong-kwan, Minister of People's Armed Forces; Ri Son-gwon, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Kim Jong-ho, Minister of People's Security.
Meanwhile, North Korea had initially announced that the Supreme People's Assembly would be held on the 10th but postponed it without specifying the reason.
Some speculated that the meeting was delayed because some delegates showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms. The Supreme People's Assembly has about 680 delegates in total.
However, photos released by North Korean media on the day show hundreds of people gathered in the meeting hall, with no one visibly wearing masks.
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