North to Hold 'Supreme People's Assembly' in January... Strengthened Control over South Korean Culture Expected (Comprehensive)

North Korea Holds Consecutive Supreme People's Assembly Sessions Following Year-End Plenary Meeting
Discusses Direction, Tasks, and Budget of Next Year's Cabinet Work
Adopts Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Law, Deliberates Central Prosecutor's Office Work
Youth Executed After Watching South Korean Videos...Expectations of Tighter Control

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 7th that the 23rd plenary meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on the 6th. The agency stated, "The 8th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly will be convened in Pyongyang on January 17, 2023," and added, "A decision by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly regarding this was adopted on the 6th."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea plans to hold the Supreme People's Assembly, equivalent to our National Assembly, in January next year to discuss tasks including cabinet affairs, budget issues, and the work of the Central Prosecutor's Office. In particular, it is expected to further strengthen controls over the distribution of South Korean-style speech and video materials, which North Korea has recently been cracking down on strongly.

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced on the 7th, "The 8th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly will be convened in Pyongyang on January 17, 2023," adding, "A decision by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly related to this was adopted on the 6th."

At this Supreme People's Assembly, discussions are expected on the cabinet's business status and tasks for next year, the national budget for this year and next, the adoption of the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Law, the status of the Central Prosecutor's Office's work, and organizational issues. It is interpreted as a plan to decide the direction of next year's work at the upcoming year-end plenary meeting of the Workers' Party Central Committee, then promptly approve it through the Supreme People's Assembly and discuss detailed budgets.

In particular, discussing the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Law and Central Prosecutor's Office issues at the Supreme People's Assembly is analyzed as an effort to further strengthen control over external cultural influences entering North Korea.

North Korea is reportedly cracking down on South Korean-style speech and forms of address among the youth, corresponding to our 'MZ generation.' Additionally, the Anti-Reactionary Thought and Culture Rejection Law enacted in December 2020 includes a punishment clause imposing the death penalty on those distributing South Korean video materials. It was reported that in October, North Korea executed youths who watched South Korean movies and dramas and distributed them to others.

In the past, regular sessions of the Supreme People's Assembly were usually held once a year, but in recent years, they have been held twice annually. This year, the 6th session was held in February and the 7th session in September. At the 7th session, Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, declared the "legalization of nuclear forces" in his policy speech and emphasized the completion of the five-year national economic development plan.

Meanwhile, KCNA reported that the 23rd plenary meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall the day before. Chaired by Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, the meeting included agenda items such as convening the next Supreme People's Assembly, adopting the Social Catering Law, and issues related to summoning and electing judges of the Central Court and people's assessors.

The news agency explained, "The Social Catering Law regulates the mission and nature of social catering as a part of socialist commerce," adding, "It clarifies fundamental issues arising from establishing strict systems and order in organizing and operating the social catering network to meet people's dietary needs and convenience, and to develop the country's culinary technology, as well as strengthening administrative guidance and legal control over it."