A chill wind is blowing through North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea ahead of the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong Un’s assumption of party leadership. North Korean authorities have launched a sweeping reorganization of the party organization, putting party cadres at risk of being “structurally readjusted” out of their jobs.
According to a high-ranking Daily NK source in North Korea on Friday, North Korea handed down an order regarding the party shakeup early last month, calling on officials to complete the reorganization before Apr. 11, the anniversary of Kim’s ascension to first secretary of the party.
According to the source, the order focuses on merging party departments and reducing personnel, with the reorganization currently underway in the Central Committee and provincial parties. Above all, the shakeup will apparently result in about 300 to 350 cadres in the Central Committee alone being transferred elsewhere.
The reorganization is reportedly targeting older cadres who perform no substantive work within the party, as well as cadres who have done little but protect their positions for the last 10 years. These cadres will likely move to the Pyongyang city party, municipal district parties, or enterprises and factories under the party’s administration.
However, even if they are sent to enterprises or factories, they are likely to be given party secretary positions related to their original jobs.
The source said North Korea has embarked on this shakeup marking Kim’s 10th anniversary of becoming first secretary to simplify the party’s reporting system and strengthen direct centralized control.
Critics have long noted that the party is awash in so many reports going up the line — from the Central Committee to the lowest local party body — that party orders are not being properly conveyed or executed.
In particular, the Central Committee reportedly plans to organize meetings of important regional cadres after the party shakeup, directly evaluating and reviewing the situation across the country. The Central Committee will thus strengthen its system of administration and control over its subordinate organizations.
There is also reportedly talk inside and outside the party that the shakeup was an inevitable choice linked with shortages of party funds. With rations for cadres in short supply, the party is cutting personnel.
According to the source, people say the party took the measure because it can no longer give cadres everything they need for free, so they are sending reshuffled cadres to ranches, factories, and farms where there are economic benefits to be had.
North Korea later plans to reorganize city and county party organizations, though whether it will reorganize the country’s mass organizations as well remains unknown.
North Korea also reportedly plans to hold a national report convention or commemorative rally to mark the 10th anniversary of Kim’s assumption of the party’s leadership.
The country’s leadership apparently hopes the event will promote Kim’s accomplishments over the last decade and bolster ideological activities and loyalty to Kim himself, as well as improve internal unity. Relatedly, the source said all party officials will gather on Apr. 11 to offer oaths of loyalty.
The source said this is the first such “loyalty oath” gathering or commemorative rally to mark the anniversary of Kim’s promotion to first secretary.
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