Prospects Presenting North Korea's National Governance Directions by Sector
Ministry of Unification "Will Monitor the 6th Plenary Meeting"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has once again announced the year-end convening of the Workers' Party Central Committee plenary meeting this year, drawing attention to the new year’s national policy direction to be presented by Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party.
In the past, North Korea outlined the direction of domestic and foreign policies through the New Year's address by the supreme leader. However, recently, it has adopted a method of holding party meetings at the turn of the year without delivering a New Year's address, to review the past year and announce plans for the new year. Last year, the plenary meeting was held from December 27 to 31, and the results of the discussions along with General Secretary Kim Jong-un’s speech were released on January 1. The same was true in 2020, and in 2021, the early January speech at the party congress by Kim Jong-un was regarded as a substitute for the New Year's address.
On the 1st, the Korean Central News Agency reported the convening of the plenary meeting in late this month, stating that ▲ the review of the party and state policies in 2022 ▲ the business plan for 2023 ▲ and a series of important issues arising in the current party and revolutionary development would be discussed and decided.
The plenary meeting is a major policy decision-making body convened by the Party Central Committee during periods when the official highest decision-making body, the party congress, is not held. It discusses and resolves domestic and foreign issues and has become a core decision-making body since Kim Jong-un’s rise to power. This plenary meeting is expected to cover a wide range of topics including domestic affairs such as the economy and epidemic prevention, as well as external strategies including inter-Korean and US policies, national defense strengthening measures, and personnel matters.
A Ministry of Unification official said to reporters on the same day, "It is expected that the plenary meeting will present North Korea’s plans and policy directions for each sector next year," adding, "The government will closely monitor the convening of this 6th plenary meeting."
Particularly, attention is focused on what messages will be delivered toward our government and the United States.
In the speech at the year-end plenary meeting released on January 1 this year, General Secretary Kim Jong-un focused on domestic affairs such as the economy and did not deliver any messages regarding inter-Korean or US relations. This was interpreted as due to the global spread of COVID-19 and the scheduled South Korean presidential election, which created a fluid situation.
However, North Korea has recently taken a firm confrontational stance toward South Korea and the United States, repeatedly engaging in high-intensity military provocations. Therefore, there is a strong possibility that this time it will reaffirm an offensive external policy line and continue to escalate military tensions.
Next year also marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean regime and the so-called 70th anniversary of victory in the Korean War (the 70th anniversary of the armistice). To strengthen internal unity, North Korea may seek to more clearly highlight the confrontation with South Korea and the United States. North Korea typically holds grand commemorative events on milestone years occurring every five or ten years. There is already speculation that a large-scale military parade may be held to mark these anniversaries.
It is also expected that the determination to strengthen national defense will be reaffirmed. North Korea may reiterate its commitment to nuclear and missile development and possibly mention the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or satellite launches.
Domestic affairs such as the economy and epidemic prevention are also expected to be given significant attention. Next year is the third year of the "Five-Year National Economic Development Plan" announced by North Korea in early 2021, and General Secretary Kim has emphasized that it is an important year to establish a decisive guarantee for the completion of the five-year plan.
Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, analyzed, "Unless there are changes in the political and military environment surrounding the Korean Peninsula, confrontation between South and North Korea and between North Korea and the US is expected to continue next year," but added, "Having achieved the greatest task in national defense with the successful ICBM launch at the end of this year, next year it seems North Korea will focus more on producing results in the defense sector as well as in the livelihood sector of the five-year plan."
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