[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea is analyzed to have reinforced internal discipline by reaffirming the status of Kim Yo-jong, the sister of General Secretary Kim Jong-un, and disciplining some key officials through an expanded meeting of the Workers' Party Central Committee Political Bureau.
In the midst of a generational change, it is solidifying the sibling rule of the 'Baekdu bloodline' both domestically and internationally.
According to intelligence authorities on the 1st, North Korea held an expanded meeting of the Party Political Bureau, dismissing high-ranking officials one after another, and emphasized officials' loyalty to the Party through the Rodong Sinmun.
The Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun emphasized in an article titled "Officials and Revolutionary Training" on the 1st, "Regardless of revolutionary seniority or position and achievements, all officials must always consciously strive to be armed with Party policies and to be under the control of Party organizations with an open attitude and posture."
It continued, "People's thoughts and abilities also change," and pointed out, "If an official regards becoming an official as a predestined fate, neglects Party training, and does not voluntarily enter the revolutionary furnace, they will become ideologically corrupt and deteriorate, eventually falling into the path of anti-Party and anti-revolution, unrecognizable to both the Party and the people."
The newspaper stressed, "Facing unprecedented trials and difficulties, our revolution demands more prepared officials than ever before," and "It is time to carry out the Party Central Committee's ideology and intentions unconditionally, thoroughly, and devotedly, even at the risk of life."
This implies that even high-ranking officials with many achievements can be subject to criticism if they do not thoroughly implement the Party's directives, and some analysts interpret this as targeting Ri Pyong-chol, the Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, who appears to have been recently dismissed.
Earlier, on the 30th of last month, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "The Political Bureau of the Workers' Party Central Committee convened an expanded meeting on the 29th at the Party Central Committee headquarters to strictly deal with the dereliction of duty by some responsible officials and to establish a new turning point for the revolution of officials throughout the Party."
General Secretary Kim presided over the meeting and explained the reason for convening the expanded Political Bureau meeting just 11 days after the plenary session, stating, "Because responsible officials in charge of major state affairs neglected to organize, material, and scientific-technical measures according to the Party's important decisions on the prolonged national emergency epidemic prevention, causing a major incident that created a great crisis for the safety of the state and the people."
Kim said, "The main factor obstructing and hindering the accomplishment of major tasks is the incompetence and irresponsibility of officials," and "We will intensify the struggle against ideological faults and all negative elements appearing among officials throughout the Party. Now is the time to launch an official revolution before solving economic problems."
Following General Secretary Kim's reprimand, during the discussion, Kim Yo-jong took the microphone and criticized the ideological roots of officials' problematic behaviors.
Kim Yo-jong and other discussants argued at the meeting, "The incompetence and irresponsible attitude of those who distorted the implementation of national policies is not a simple practical mistake but an extreme negligence and dereliction of duty born from a lack of awareness to shoulder and solve the Party and state's difficulties."
Kim Yo-jong is understood to have been demoted from First Deputy Director of the Party Organization Guidance Department to Deputy Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, and from a member of the Party Central Committee to a candidate member at the 8th Workers' Party Congress held on January 8.
However, considering the status confirmed at this meeting, there is speculation that she may have been given the title of Political Bureau Secretary, drawing attention.
Meanwhile, General Secretary Kim appears to have abruptly dismissed Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission and second in military rank, holding him responsible for a serious incident threatening residents' safety in the COVID-19 prevention sector during this expanded meeting.
The meeting summoned and elected members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee, Political Bureau members, candidate members, and Party Central Committee secretaries, and continued disciplinary personnel changes by transferring and appointing officials of state institutions.
Although North Korea did not disclose specific personnel details, according to footage released by Korean Central Television, the dismissed officials are believed to include Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman and member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee; Pak Jong-chon, Chief of the General Staff and Political Bureau member; and Choe Sang-gun, Party Secretary responsible for health, education, and science and technology sectors.
In the TV footage showing the voting scene with raised hands, all members of the Presidium Political Bureau, including General Secretary Kim, raised their hands, but Ri Pyong-chol and Pak Jong-chon did not. The seat where Choe Sang-gun sat was also empty.
In the voting photo released by the Korean Central News Agency, Ri Pyong-chol was the only Standing Committee member looking down with a dark expression, and General Secretary Kim was seen looking toward Ri Pyong-chol.
An official from the Ministry of Unification said, "Since North Korea has not disclosed specific details related to the major incident, it is difficult to make assumptions," and "It is also hard to confirm what personnel measures were taken. We need to observe follow-up actions."
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