North Korea Focuses on Internal Affairs... Kim Jong-un Emphasizes Disaster Management and Epidemic Prevention at Politburo Meeting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, presided over an expanded Political Bureau meeting on the 2nd, discussing domestic issues such as land management and epidemic prevention. Since there was no mention of messages to the U.S. or South Korea or defense capabilities, it is analyzed that North Korea is likely to focus on internal affairs for the time being.

According to the March 3rd report by Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim presided over the 8th Central Committee's 3rd expanded Political Bureau meeting on the 2nd, emphasizing the importance of epidemic prevention by stating, "Strengthening epidemic prevention at the current situation is the most critical task that must not be neglected even for a moment."

He said, "The dangerous situation where the global pandemic is not being controlled and continues to spread requires further strengthening and implementation of national epidemic prevention measures," and instructed party organizations and officials to launch a major political offensive to tighten the epidemic prevention front.

He also gave instructions on regional disaster management. Kim emphasized, "The core idea of this expanded Political Bureau meeting of the Party Central Committee is that all cities and counties must vigorously promote land management projects with their own strength to make their regions safe and resilient against any natural disasters."

Additionally, he stated, "Land and environmental protection projects have been consistently emphasized by our Party since immediately after liberation and have been promoted more importantly in recent years," adding, "In our country, which has many mountains, rivers, and a long coastline, land management is also economic construction and an essential condition for the safety of the people's lives and national development."

Kim also said, "Improving the quality of consumer goods for the people is as important as increasing production," urging the expansion of consumer goods production in the light industry sector, and called for achieving agricultural production targets by stating, "Political propaganda and economic agitation to raise the atmosphere of rural support throughout society must be vigorously carried out."

While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report revealed that North Korea recently restarted the Yongbyon reactor, there was no mention of strengthening defense capabilities or nuclear capabilities at the meeting. There were also no messages to the U.S. or South Korea. This indicates that the purpose of the meeting was thoroughly focused on internal affairs.

Professor Lim Eul-chul of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University said, "Considering the nature of the urgent issues addressed at the expanded Political Bureau meeting and the urgent tasks to be resolved, North Korea will inevitably continue to focus on solving internal problems," adding, "Although North Korea is showing signs such as restarting the Yongbyon nuclear facility and holding a military parade, it will not show excessive military activities."