The Day-Before Politburo Meeting... New Year Strategy Previewed at Plenary Session
"Next Year Marks the 75th Anniversary of the Republic's Founding, Must Shine with Greater Victory"
Possibility of Revealing South Korea, US Strategies and Defense Development
North Korea will hold a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in late this month. On the 1st, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "The 11th Political Bureau meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on November 30 at the headquarters building of the Party Central Committee." The meeting, presided over by State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, decided to convene the 6th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Party in late December "to summarize the implementation status of the Party and state policies in 2022, and to discuss and decide on the 2023 work plan and a series of important issues arising in the current period of Party and revolutionary development," the agency said. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea will hold a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in late this month to review this year's work and decide the direction of state administration for the next year. Since this year is significant for the North as it marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Republic and the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War), there is a possibility that new strategies toward South Korea and the United States or plans to strengthen national defense will be revealed.
Since officially taking power, General Secretary Kim Jong-un has presented the direction of state administration for the new year through New Year's addresses, but in the past three years, he has replaced these with reports at party meetings. If this pattern continues next year, deciding and announcing the new year's strategy through year-end and New Year party meetings is expected to become a political event of the Kim Jong-un regime.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 1st that the 11th Political Bureau meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, chaired by General Secretary Kim Jong-un, was held the previous day at the Central Committee headquarters, and at the meeting, it was decided to convene the 6th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee in late December.
The agency explained, "(The plenary meeting was convened) to summarize (settle) the execution status of the party and state policies in 2022 and to discuss and decide on the 2023 work plan and a series of important issues arising in the current period of party and revolutionary development."
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party, which organizes and guides all party affairs, discusses and decides on internal and external party matters through plenary meetings during periods when party congresses are not held. Since the plenary meeting presents the overall direction of state policy, it is expected to provide clues about the direction of next year's strategies toward South Korea and the United States. There is also a possibility that plans to strengthen national defense, such as the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), satellite launches, or nuclear tests, will be disclosed.
At the meeting, General Secretary Kim evaluated, "The domestic and international environment in 2022, which came on the path of our revolution's advance, was an unprecedented ordeal testing our will and combat capability," but added, "Thanks to the precise leadership of the Party Central Committee, a new phase for transformative development of the country has opened, and the nation's prestige and glory have risen to a new level."
He emphasized, "To amplify the positive changes that occurred in party building and state affairs this year and to vigorously push forward the vast tasks of the new year, it is extremely important to accurately analyze the experiences and lessons accumulated during the year's struggles in each sector and innovatively identify problems that can be solved with our potential to properly finalize next year's plans."
He further noted, "2023 is a historic year marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Republic and the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War), and at the same time, it is an important year to establish a decisive guarantee for the completion of the five-year plan."
All standing members of the Political Bureau attended the meeting, including Party Organization Secretary Jo Yong-won, Premier Kim Deok-hoon, First Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee Choe Ryong-hae, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Ri Pyong-chol, and Party Central Committee Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Pak Jong-chon.
Also confirmed to have attended were Deputy Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission Pak Jong-keun, Chairman of the Party Central Inspection Commission Kim Jae-ryong, Party Secretary Ri Il-hwan, Minister of Defense Ri Yong-gil, Chief of the General Staff Ri Tae-seop, and Director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army Jeong Kyong-taek.
Meanwhile, the possibility has increased that General Secretary Kim's speech at the party plenary meeting will replace the New Year's address next year. Since officially taking power, Kim has presented the direction of state administration for the new year through New Year's addresses on January 1, but for the past three years, he has not delivered New Year's addresses and has instead replaced them with reports at party meetings.
In 2020, the New Year's address was replaced by the speech at the year-end 2019 party plenary meeting, and in January 2021, it was replaced by the speech at the 8th Party Congress. This year, the New Year's address was replaced by releasing the speech from the five-day party plenary meeting held at the end of last year on January 1. If this pattern continues next year, deciding and announcing the new year's strategy through year-end and New Year party meetings is expected to become a political event of the Kim Jong-un regime.
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