Kim Jong Un to hold meeting of company commanders and political guidance officers

The meeting is the first of its kind in five years, with a similar event held in October 2013. The previous meeting was held 13 years after the last, in 2000, suggesting that the time between the events is growing shorter.

While the event can be viewed as part of North Korea’s move to become a “normal country,” the sources reported that news of the meeting was quickly disseminated around March 10. This suggests that the meeting is aimed at strengthening political and ideological education within the military following the failure of the US-DPRK summit in Vietnam.

A North Pyongan Province-based source told Daily NK that “instructions to hold the meeting in late March were handed down to military bases on March 10.” While the central government has announced the meeting will be held in late March, it may actually be held in early April due to the need to prepare for it.

Preparations are ongoing to ensure that company commanders and company political guidance officers attend the meeting from each military unit, the source said.

The ages of the company commanders and political guidance officers who will attend the meeting stretch from those in their late 20s to others in their early 30s. After graduating from the Kanggun Military Academy, these officials become platoon leaders at the rank of captains. The children of ‘revolutionary fighters’ finish this process at an early age and obtain the rank of company commander.

The October 2013 meeting was of special interest to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who delivered the event’s opening and closing speech, attended a performance by the Moranbong Band and took a commemorative picture with event participants. Kim’s interest in the event appeared to stem from his desire to ensure that young military officers felt a sense of kinship with their leader and encourage loyalty to the regime.

From Kim’s perspective, the company commanders live and breathe with ordinary soldiers and because they have grown into the central force within the military during his rule, there is a high possibility they are being cultivated to become part of his personal guard. The meeting of these military officers thus inevitably has a significant meaning for Kim’s efforts to strengthen the foundations of his rule.  

It is unclear whether Kim will open the event with a significant speech announcing special measures following public statements by North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggesting the halting of US-DPRK negotiations. During a speech at the event, he may put pressure on the US by hinting at provocations, including the strengthening of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.

“The company commanders and political guidance officers work in the demilitarized zone and on the [Sino-North Korean] border area and all of them have been ordered to attend the event,” a source in South Pyongan Province said.

“The Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces’ Rearguard General Bureau or the Construction General Bureau, among other support units, will organize the event based on the number of participants.”

During the period in which the company commanders and political guidance officers will be absent from their posts, battalion commanders step in to help fill their place, and high-ranking units and security agencies plan to strengthen their monitoring activities to prevent any slacking off among lower-ranked soldiers.