Kim Jong Un addresses an enlarged meeting of the Korean Workers’ Party Central Military Commission (Photo: KCNA)
The Party Central Military Commission, as of August 2012. There may have been personnel changes reflecting Gen. Kim Kyok Sik’s appointment as Minister of the People’s Armed Forces in November 2012 and Gen. Jong Myong Do’s removal fro office as KPA Navy Commander in April 2012 but DPRK state media has not publicized those changes (Photo: Graphic by Michael Madden/NKLW)
DPRK state media reported on 3 February (Sunday) that Kim Jong Un chaired a meeting of the Korean Workers’ Party Central Military Commission [CMC], staff of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Supreme Command, commanding officers of KPA large combined units (taeyonhap pudae), senior commanders of the KPA Navy, KPA Air and Anti-Air Forces and the KPA Strategic Rocket Force Command [SRFC]. KJU’s last reported public appearance was at a photo-op with participants of the 4th Meeting of Party Cell Secretaries. DPRK state media described it as an enlarged meeting of the CMC which “discussed the issue of bringing about a great turn in bolstering up the military capability, true to the Military-First (So’ngun) revolutionary leadership of the WPK, and an organizational issue.” According to KCNA the meeting was “held at an important time when a turning phase is being opened in building a thriving socialist nation and achieving the cause of national reunification will mark an important occasion in powerfully encouraging the army and people of the DPRK all out in the general advance of the new year full of conviction of certain victory and optimism and bolstering up the defence capability of the country in every way.”
Kim Jong Un (L) delivers a speech at an enlarged meeting of the Party Central Military Commission (Photos: KCNA)
At the meeting Kim Jong Un delivered a speech “which serves as guidelines for further strengthening the KPA into a matchless revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu and defending the security and sovereignty of the country as required by the WPK and the developing revolution.” After KJU’s speech, “the participants in the meeting extended highest glory and deepest thanks to Kim Jong Un, who is ushering in the greatest heyday of increasing the military capability with his extraordinary wisdom and stratagem, matchless grit and pluck and noble virtues and evinced their firm determination to unconditionally and thoroughly implement the militant tasks set forth by him in his speech.”
Unlike previous statements issued by the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC[, DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and editorials and essays that appeared in state media outlets KCNA, Rodong Sinmun, or Minju Choson, this particular news item on the CMC meeting contained no overt references to “upcoming all-out action” or possible nuclear test activities. The report on the CMC meeting did note “an organizational issue” which may indicate personnel changes in the KPA high command or on the CMC itself. It should be noted that the CMC is one body (the NDC being in the other in joint coordination) which authorizes and has oversight over military industry production, research and development. If an experimental nuclear detonation is imminent at the test site at Punggye-ri in Kilchu County, North Hamgy’ong Province, this enlarged CMC meeting may represent formal authorization (“bolstering up the military capability” and ”increasing the military capability”) for the test to proceed.
Filed under: 2007-2010 kpa management, 2013 Strategic Rhetoric, 2nd Academy of Natural Science, Administration Department, armored division, Artillery Corps, Central Committee, Central Military Committee, Choe Ryong Hae, Civil Defense Department, Col. Gen. Choe Kyong Song, Col. Gen. Jon Chang Bok, Col. Gen. Son Chol Ju, colonel general, corps command, DPRK External Relations, DPRK General Department of Atomic Energy, DPRK Intelligence Community, DPRK-United Nations Relations, Gen. Choe Pu Il, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik, Gen. Kim Myo'ng-kuk, Gen. Kim Won Hong, Gen. Kim Yong Chol, Gen. Pak Jae Gyong, Gen. Ri Pyong Chol, Gen. Yun Jong Rin, General Affairs, gsd, gsob, Guard Command, Jang Song-thaek, Kilchu County, Kim Family, Kim Jong Un Visits, Kim Jong-un, Kim Kyong Ok (OGD), KJI Personal Secretariat, Korean People's Army (KPA), Korean People's Air Force, Korean People's Army Air Force, Korean People's Army Supreme Command, Korean People's Internal Security Forces, Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KPA construction battalions, KPA construction brigades, KPA East Command Zone, KPA External Relations, KPA General Political Bureau, KPA General Political Department, KPA General Staff, KPA General Staff Nuclear Chemical Bureau, KPA infantry corps, KPA Large Combined Units, KPA Strategic Rocket Force Command, KPA supernumerary organizations, KPA Supreme Command, KWP Science and Education Department, Lt. Gen. Kim Rak Gyom (SRFC), Lt. Gen. Pak Jong Chon, Machine Building Industry Department, Mangyo'ngdae Revolutionary School Alumni, military security command [msc], Minister of People's Security/KPISF construction units, ministry of people's security, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (MPAF), MPAF GPB, National Academy of Defense Sciences, National Defense Commission (NDC), Navy Command, NDC Administration Department, North Korean press, nuclear weapons, Organization and Guidance Department, Pak To Chun, party life, Political Bureau, Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, Reconnaissance Bureau, Second Economic Committee, Second Economy Commission, Secretariat, State Security Department, tunnel construction, VMar Hyon Chol Hae, VMar Kim Jong Gak, VMar Kim Yong Chun, worker peasant red guard, Young Red Guard
