On October 30th, North Korea announced that
it will hold the seventh Congress of the Korean Workers’ Party sometime in May
of 2016. In preparation, central administrative organs and provincial Korean People’s
Army (KPA) units are participating in cell meetings, which are breakout groups
formed to ensure that the 7th Congress of the Worker’s Party is a success.
However, inside sources have reported that there is considerable discontent
being expressed by the Party members involved.
The last Party Congress was held in 1980.
Kim Il Sung used the occasion to introduce that his son Kim Jong Il was in line
as successor to the throne. Previous Party Congresses have been used to elect
top party officials and discuss state policies.
In a telephone conversation with Daily NK
on November 6th, an inside source from South Pyongan Province said, “Recently, Central Party administrative bodies, the KPA, administrative departments from state
enterprises, and university Party outfits have been participating in cell
meetings.”
This round of cell meetings is a nationwide
occurrence, as confirmed by sources in two additional provinces whose locations
we have redacted for their safety.
The general cell meetings are being
conducted in order to encourage and support the central authorities’ decision
to hold the 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party. The regime hopes the cell
meetings will enable party members to enter into discussions at the convention
with a strong work ethic and high political enthusiasm in order to produce
positive outcomes.
“After the 7th Congress of the Workers’
Party was announced, all sorts of political events have been conducted across
the country. These includes events and propaganda posters in the streets of
cities and far off villages. Following the completion of their afternoon
classes, elementary school and middle school children are gathered in the
streets to sing. These are ostensibly aimed at fostering an atmosphere of
political loyalty to precipitate the convention.”
The source went on to describe another
component of the convention’s preparations, noting, “Before the convention is
held next year, Party members will be forgiven for insincerity to the regime
under the pretext of ‘maintaining the Party line.’ Those who have been punished
or warned for indiscretions such as market activities or other frowned upon
behavior will be exculpated at a special event before the convention.”
However, according to the source, rather
than awaiting the convention with excitement and anticipation, the participants
of these cell meetings feel rather harassed by the preparations required by the “pomp and circumstance of it all.” Some of the older Party members are
complaining, “Given that the 70th Anniversary of the Korean Workers’ Party
festivities just ended, we hunchbacks need a chance to stretch out and rest!
This is just unreasonable!”
“Although it has been a full 36 years since
the last Party Congress, most residents are wondering what the point is of
holding the convention now,” he went on to explain, adding that many are
expressing skeptical views about the whole affair.
“While some residents dismiss Kim Jong Un
as a youngster enjoying his luxurious lifestyle, others are worried about what
he is up to.”
Added the source, “It took a year for the residents to band
together and prepare for the 70th Anniversary of the Korean Workers’ Party
celebration. Now, to prepare for the 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party,
they’ll have less than half a year to pull everything together without a hitch.”
Thus, the burden on residents is therefore expected to be even larger. “It’s as if they climbed one mountain just to encounter another mountain when they reached
the first summit,” he said, adding that weighing down most are concerns of the burdensome offerings, monetary or otherwise, that will be demanded of them in order to fund
the extravagant event.
Meanwhile, every individual within each of
these cells, from the lowest ranking cadre to the highest, must participate in
additional criticism and self criticism sessions leading up to the
convention. These criticism and self-criticism sessions take place during the
last week of each month, followed by distribution of next month’s tasks to all participants from the Party secretary heading the cell.
Generally, criticism and self-criticism
sessions are held on a weekly, quarterly, and yearly basis with different
objectives depending on the period in question. In addition to this,
high-ranking Party officials must meet at least once a month for a general meeting
to discuss the most pressing issues that have transpired since the last gathering.
