28-789: The Secretariat of the Workers' Party of Korea , formerly known as the Executive Policy Bureau (2016–21), manages the work of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea and its Presidium . The General Secretary leads the work of the Secretariat, and the body is composed of several members (known as "secretaries"). The Secretariat, the forerunner of the Executive Policy Bureau, was established at
56-565: The 6th Congress in 1980. In 2010 the party rules stipulation that Congresses be held every five years was dropped, recognising this had been ignored for thirty years. The purpose of the Congress was to review the party's work from the time period since the 6th Congress, but also to instill public loyalty toward the leadership of the country. On 30 October 2015, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that
84-447: The 7th Central Auditing Commission : Choe Sung-ho , Pak Myong-sun , Kim Kyong-nam , Hwang Chol-sik , Kim Yong-chol , Ri Yong-ik , Kim Myong-hun , Kye Yong-sam , Jo Jong-ho , Kye Myong-chol , Jang Jong-ju , Pho Hui-song , Jong Pong-sok , Choe Kwon-su and Ho Kwang-uk . The Commission soon convened and chose as its Chairman Choe Sung-ho and Vice-chairwoman Pak Myong-sun. 129 members and 106 alternate members were elected to
112-739: The National Defense Commission and three deputy premiers were appointed to the Politbüro. Leading economic experts (such as Hong Sok-yong and Tae Jong-su ) and foreign experts (such as Kang Sok-ju , Kim Yong-il and Kim Yang-gon ) became members. At the 4th Conference, one-third of the Politburo was dismissed in unannounced retirements and dismissals. Jang Song-thaek, Pak To-chun and Vice Marshal Kim Jong-gak were promoted from candidate to full membership; Hyon Chol-hae , Kim Won-hong and Ri Myong-su , all members of
140-631: The Politburo , formerly the Political Committee (1946–61), is the highest decision-making body in the ruling party between sessions of its Central Committee . Article 25 of the Party Charter stipulates that "The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee and its Standing Committee organize and direct all party work on behalf of the party Central Committee between plenary meetings. The Political Bureau of
168-739: The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea announced a decision to hold a Congress in early May 2016, saying: The Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee decides to convene the 7th Congress of the WPK early in May Juche 105 (2016), reflecting the demand of the party and the developing revolution that witness epoch-making changes in accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche,
196-723: The Premier and the vice-chairmen of the State Affairs Commission . The Politburo's inner body is the Presidium (formerly the Standing Committee), elected by the WPK Central Committee, in charge of day-to-day party work. It is usually made up of the supreme leader and four other members. In practice, the Presidium is the highest body in both the party and the country, and its decisions de facto have
224-540: The State Security Department ) and Choe Ryong-hae (Secretary for Military Affairs). Pak Jong-su (First Deputy Head of the Organization and Guidance Department), a leading facilitator of Kim Jong Un's succession, was appointed a candidate member. Most of the new members were cabinet members, military officials, party secretaries or officials from the security establishment. Ten members from
252-670: The WPK Pyongyang City Committee ), Pak To-chun as Secretary of Defense Industry, Kim Yong-il as Secretary for International Affairs (assuming Choe Tak-pok's portfolio), Kim Yang-kon as Secretary for South Korean Affairs and Head of the United Front Department , Kim Pyong-hae as Secretary for Personnel and Thae Chong-su as Secretary of General Affairs (through his office as Head of the General Affairs Department ). At
280-717: The 2nd Conference of Representatives in October 1966, and was similar to its counterpart in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) during the Stalin era. The head of the Secretariat at the time was the General Secretary. Until 1966, the WPK had no body similar to the Secretariat; this was unusual, since a Secretariat was one of the most powerful bodies in other ruling communist parties. The Secretariat
308-712: The 3rd Conference of Representatives in 2010. Of the seven remaining members, three were retired at the 3rd Conference. The four incumbents were Kim Jong Il, Kim Ki-nam (Head of the Propaganda and Agitation Department ), Choe Tae-pok (Head of the International Department ) and Hong Sok-syong (Head of the Finance and Planning Department). Seven new members were appointed: Choe Ryong-hae as Secretary for Military Affairs, Mun Kyong-dok as Secretary for Pyongyang Affairs (through his office as Secretary of
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#1732772516599336-548: The 4th Conference, there were no retirements; Kim Kyong-hui (sister of Kim Jong Il) and Kwak Pom-gi were appointed as members and Kim Jong Un, through his office as First Secretary, replaced the late Kim Jong Il. Along with the Politburo and Central Control Committee, the Bureau is one of the three power organizations subordinate to the Party Central Committee . Also, the Bureau is involved in coordination of
364-460: The 6th Congress. At that congress, only three members (out of nine) served concurrently as full Politburo members: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jung-rin (not a Kim family member). The Secretariat's prestige continued to decline during Kim Jong Il's rule, with five of its twelve members dying during the interregnum between the December 1993 21st Plenary Session of the 6th Central Committee and
392-537: The 9th, and the day also saw a huge parade in Pyongyang in its honor. On May 9, Kim Jong Un was re-elected to the leadership of the party. His title in this capacity was changed from First Secretary to Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea , a title reminiscent of that held by his grandfather before 1966: Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. 15 members were elected to
420-509: The Central Military Commission, were appointed to full Politburo membership. Kwak Pom-gi , O Kuk-ryol , Ro Tu-chol , Ri Pyong-sam and Jo Yon-jun were elected candidate members. Officially, the Politburo is responsible for conducting its activities as well as deciding on important issues between two Central Committee plenums and should meet once a month. Its members include important state and military leaders, as
448-789: The PSC composition. Similar to the Central Committee, the Politburo was dormant during much of Kim Jong Il's rule; however, the 3rd Conference elected new Politburo members. While many foreign observers believed it would signify a generational shift, it did not; the youngest member was 53 years old, and the average age was 74 (with 12 over age 80). The majority of new members were aides to Kim Jong Il or Kim family members . Kim Kyong-hui (Kim Jong Il's sister) and Jang Song-thaek (Kim Kyong-hui's husband) were appointed full and candidate member, respectively. Several of Jang's protégés were elected candidate members, including Ju Sang-song ( Minister of People's Security ), U Tong-chuk (First Deputy Director of
476-537: The Party Central Committee shall meet at least once every month." The Politburo is elected by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. Until April 1956, the Politburo was known as the Political Council. After Kim Il Sung 's unitary ruling system was established in the 1960s, the Politburo was transformed from a decision-making body where policies could be discussed into a rubber stamp body. Leading members have disappeared without explanation;
504-503: The Politburo and the Central Committee were not in session. With the death of O Jin-u in 1995, Kim Jong Il remained the only member of the Politburo Standing Committee still alive; the four others (Kim Il Sung, Kim Il , O Jin-u, and Ri Jong-ok ) died in office. Between O Jin-u's death and the 3rd Conference, there were no reports indicating that Kim Jong Il or the central party leadership was planning to renew
532-421: The cause of building a thriving socialist nation. On 17 February 2016 joint slogans were issued by Workers' Party of Korea's Central Military Commission and Central Committee , and they were published by Rodong Sinmun and KCNA. The Congress was preceded by a "70-day battle" mass mobilization campaign. Human Rights Watch claimed that the campaign meant uncompensated and forced labor for people across
560-592: The country, including children, and that the object of the campaign was to boost outputs in manufacture and agriculture and demonstrate loyalty. A five-day holiday was declared for the duration of the Congress. The Congress was opened on 6 May 2016 at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang , in the presence of 3,467 voting delegates. Unlike the last congress, there were no major foreign delegations, but 128 foreign journalists from 12 countries were allowed to cover
588-421: The event. Reporters were kept outside of the venue, and a recording of the opening event was only televised later in the evening. The Congress opened with an address by Kim Jong Un . In it, he praised the country's January 2016 nuclear test and satellite launch . After having chosen its presidium and secretariat, the Congress approved its agenda: The Congress continued on 7 May with Kim Jong Un's report on
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#1732772516599616-466: The force of law. As of May 2024, the Politburo is composed of 16 members and 12 alternate members, with the following line-up. 7th Congress of the Workers%27 Party of Korea The 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea ( WPK ), the ruling party of North Korea , was held on 6–9 May 2016. The 7th Congress was the first Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea held since
644-402: The last was Kim Tong-gyu , in 1977. Politburo members under Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lacked a strong power base, and depended on the party leader for their position. Because of this, the Politburo became a loyal servant of the party leader. The Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) of the Workers' Party of Korea was established at the 6th Congress in 1980, and became the highest WPK body when
672-495: The party structure. It has authority in the Worker' Party of Korea, but does not have policy-making influence. The Politburo and its Presidium can elect or appoint officials in the Bureau. According to the charter of the WPK , "The Executive Policy Bureau periodically discusses and decides on the problems of cadres, internal problems of the party, and other tasks of the party, and supervises the execution of party decisions". The body
700-458: The work of the 6th Central Committee. In the report, Kim Jong Un reiterated the country's nuclear policy , calling it "a responsible nuclear weapons state". According to Kim, North Korea would not use nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty was violated. With regards to the economy, Kim announced the country's first Five-Year Plan since the 1980s. Speeches by other delegates expressed support for Kim's report. A decision on approving Kim's report
728-509: Was established during a power struggle as a means of strengthening Kim Il Sung's control over the party's lower-level organizations; for this reason, a large majority of the first Secretariat members were full or candidate members of the WPK Politburo. After the power struggle ended in 1967–1968, the Secretariat's status waned; this "has been reflected by the lower status of cadres appointed to the Secretariat in recent years", especially at
756-542: Was known as the Secretariat from its establishment in October 1966 to its reorganization into the Executive Policy Bureau at the 7th Congress in May 2016. As of 10 January 2021, the Secretariat consists of the General Secretary and seven secretaries. Politburo of the Workers%27 Party of Korea In North Korea , the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), or simply
784-480: Was unanimously adopted on 9 May. In it, the party vowed to continue building a more extensive nuclear arsenal. A report on the work of the Central Auditing Commission was then heard. On the 9th, foreign journalists were briefly let in the Congress venue for the first time, during the announcement of Kim Jong Un's election as Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea . The Congress ended on
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