The Central Committee’s Organization and Guidance Department recently brought out the scythe, conducting sweeping ideological reviews and personnel changes of leading party and state officials at so-called “leadership achievement units.”
“Leadership achievement units” refer to units and groups that have followed North Korea’s three generations of top leaders around on on-the-spot guidance and on-the-spot inspection tours, recording their teachings and comments. Within North Korea, cadres who serve in such units are regarded as the “flag bearers” of the party, military and nation, and experience as a leading official in one of these units ensures favorable treatment and fast promotions.
Accordingly, the review indicates the authorities’ intention to verify the loyalty of cadres in these choice positions.
That the review was timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Kim’s ascent to the top position in the party on Apr. 11 also suggests the move aims to create a new atmosphere within the party based on “Kim Jong Un’s revolutionary ideology.”
According to Daily NK sources in South Pyongan Province and Pyongyang on Thursday, the Central Committee issued an order for the review on Feb. 19.
More specifically, the order called for a general review of party and state officials in central government and province-level historical and leadership accomplishment units, focusing on their execution of party policy and other activities over the last 10 years. The order also called on the Organization and Guidance Department and Cadre Department to take charge of the review.
The situation on the ground changed rapidly after the order. The Organization and Guidance Department immediately dispatched ideological review personnel, who have reportedly been taking a fine-tooth comb to the abilities and records of leading officials at leadership accomplishment units across the country.
This has cadres on edge. They worry that the authorities may break the long-standing practice — never before altered — of setting no age limits for service as leading officials in leadership accomplishment units.
In fact, the authorities have basically been telegraphing a sweeping generational change, stressing the need for a “general review and changing the party atmosphere of the last decade” and for “new energy in the party.”
Because of this, some North Koreans wonder if Kim is using the 10th anniversary of his leadership to bring an end to “rule by the dying wishes” of his ancestors and to begin standing on his own in earnest.
The sources said leaders continuously stress that the “ideology of unitary leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un alone” is “the new task of the age.” In order to accomplish this, it seems leaders believe they urgently need to bolster leadership accomplishment units and their cadres.
The authorities will conduct the review for about a month until Mar. 19. A sweeping reshuffle of personnel is expected to follow, according to the sources.
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