From Economy to Military... Kim Jong-un Enforcing 'Discipline'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, held an expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party and emphasized the importance of control to establish discipline among the new generation of military officers. Following his bold move to replace the economic director at the previous Party plenary meeting to enforce 'economic discipline,' General Secretary Kim is now focusing on emphasizing military discipline.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 25th, the first expanded meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission held the day before discussed the issue of establishing discipline among military officers. General Secretary Kim stated, "Establishing revolutionary moral discipline within the army is not merely a practical matter but a fateful issue related to the survival of the People's Army," and added, "We must strengthen educational work and control to correct the political consciousness and moral perspective of the new generation of People's Army commanders." There was no mention of the recent defection incident involving a North Korean man swimming across the border.

This expanded meeting is interpreted as a follow-up to the previous Party Congress and plenary meetings. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "This is to emphasize that the military is no exception in the innovation and discipline issues that General Secretary Kim has been strongly driving since the beginning of this year," and added, "Although it is unusual that there was no mention of the 'swimming defection,' it may have been addressed internally."

Personnel changes among mid-level military officers were also made at the meeting. Kim Seong-gil was appointed as Navy Commander, and Kim Chung-il as Commander of the Air and Anti-Air Force, receiving the ranks of Navy Lieutenant General and Air Force Lieutenant General, respectively. Defense Minister Kim Jong-gwan and Chief of the General Political Bureau Kwon Young-jin were promoted by one grade. Additionally, five individuals?Ju Dong-cheol, Ko Won-nam, Kim Young-moon, Kim Chung-sung, and Jang Soon-mo?were awarded the rank of Lieutenant General, and 27 individuals, including Ri Myong-ho, were awarded the rank of Major General.