The Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Committee has launched an inspection of major student uniform and school item factories in Pyongyang and other regions. This audit, conducted by the Central Auditing Commission, focuses on production and finances.
A Daily NK source in Pyongyang, speaking anonymously for security reasons, reported recently that the city’s people’s committee received notice of the inspection on July 26. The commission stated it would “conduct an intensive inspection of the production and supply of student uniforms and school items, the top priority of the government and party among the socialist policies presented at the Eighth Party Congress.”
The Pyongyang people’s committee, having undergone regular annual state inspections for the past four years, inquired about necessary document preparation. The Central Auditing Commission responded that it would “look into everything regarding the production and supply of student uniforms and school items since the Eighth Party Congress.”
The source explained that the inspection serves as both a general review of the last four years since the Eighth Party Congress and part of the party’s policy supervision activities. The focus is on production and supply imbalances, as well as financial corruption and inefficiency.
This audit appears to reflect the North Korean government’s intention to enhance transparency and efficiency in party policy execution. It aims to ensure compliance with party rules that uphold the central committee’s unitary leadership in the production and finances of these factories.
The inspection will occur simultaneously at major student uniform and school item factories across 13 provinces and special cities, including Pyongyang, through September’s end.
The Central Auditing Committee is investigating several aspects:
– Production shortfalls
– Quality issues
– Supply inequities
– Financial opacity leading to corruption or embezzlement
– Unnecessary expenditures or misuse of state funds
“The Central Auditing Commission is a mighty agency that can launch inspections of compliance with party rules and laws and financial management wherever it wants and call in or mobilize the personnel it needs, so Pyongyang’s people’s committee and the two factories in the city selected for the inspection are quite nervous,” the source said.
The commission will also gather opinions from students and parents during the inspection.
“The Central Auditing Commission is placing significance on this inspection, saying it will help restore the socialist policies of the Kim Jong Un era and firm up the political ideology of placing the people first,” the source concluded.
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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