North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

CMC Meeting Held

Kim Jong Un presides over the first meeting of the WPK’s 8th Central Military Commission in Pyongyang on 24 February 2021 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

The first meeting of the 8th Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Central Military Commission [CMC] was held on an enlarged basis on 24 February (Wednesday) at the WPK Central Committee Office Building.  Attending the meeting were CMC Vice Chairman and WPK Secretary Ri Pyong Chol (Ri Pyo’ng-ch’o’l), members of the CMC, corps and service branch commanding officers, executive members of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] WPK Committee, members of the KPA high command and WPK Central Committee Department Deputy (Vice) Directors.

View of the 24 February 2021 Central Military Commission meeting held at the WPK Central Committee’s main office building (Photos: KCNA/Rodong).

The CMC meeting “referred to a series of shortcomings revealed in the military and political activities and moral lives of KPA commanding officers” and it “discussed the issue of thoroughly establishing the revolutionary moral discipline within the KPA.”  Kim Jong Un said that “to establish the revolutionary moral discipline within the KPA is not just a technical issues, but a fatal issue related to the existence of the KPA and success or failure in the army building and military activities…in order to settle this important issue, it is necessary above all to intensify the education and control aimed at ensuring that the KPA commanding officers of the new generations have the proper political consciousness and moral point of view.”

The CMC gathering “stressed the need for all Party organizations and political institutions of the KPA to regard the establishment of the revolutionary discipline and moral traits as a major task of the present time for thoroughly establishing the command system of the Party Central Committee, enhancing combat capability and giving full play to the noble spiritual and moral superiority of the revolutionary army, and underlined the need to carry out the task in an intensive way.”

Kim Jong Un shakes hands with KPA General Political Bureau Director Kwon Yong Jin after Kwon’s promotion to the rank of Vice Marshal (Photo: KCNA).

The CMC then addressed personnel affairs.  Kim Song Gil (Kim So’ng-kil) was appointed commander of the KPA Navy and given the rank of Vice Admiral (three star, equivalent to Colonel-General [sangjang] in ground forces and internal security).  Kim Chung Il (Kim Chung-il) was appointed commander of the KPA Air and anti-Air Force and given the rank of Lieutenant-General (jungjang).   Minister of National Defense Kim Jong Gwan and KPA General Political Bureau Director Kwon Yong Jin were elevated to the rank of Vice Marshal (ch’asu).

Information

This article was written on 25 Feb 2021, and is filled under 2021 KPA Promotions, 2021 Strategic Rhetoric, Artillery Corps, Central Committee, Central Military Committee, Col. Gen. Kim Song Chol, Col. Gen. No Kwang Chol (KPAGS), Col. Gen. O Il Jong, Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon, Col. Gen. Rim Kwang Il (GSOB), Col. Gen. So Hong Chan, colonel general, corps command, corps commanders, DPRK Intelligence Community, east sea command, Events Management Section, Gen Kim Jong Gwan, Gen Pang Tu Sop, Gen. Jo Kyong Chol, Gen. Ri Pyong Chol, General Affairs, gsd, gsob, Guard Command, Jo Yong Won, Kim Chong-un inspections, Kim Chung Il (KPA AF), Kim Family, Kim Jong Un Visits, Kim Jong-un, Kim Song Gil (KPA Navy CO), KJU Personal Secretariat, Korean People's Air Force, Korean People's Air Force [KPAF], Korean People's Army Air Force, Korean People's Army Supreme Command, Korean People's Army (KPA), Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KPA Cadres Bureau, KPA General Political Bureau, KPA General Political Department, KPA General Propaganda Department, KPA General Staff, KPA infantry corps, KPA Organization Department, KPA Party Life, KPA supernumerary organizations, KPA Supreme Command, KPA WPK Committee, Lt. Gen. Kim Jong Gwan (MPAF), Military Affairs, military economy, military security command [msc], Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (MPAF), MPAF GPB, Navy Command, Office of Military Officers, Organization and Guidance Department, party life, Political Bureau, Propaganda and Agitation Department, Pyongyang Defense Command, Reconnaissance Bureau, Ri Yong Chol (IV AC PC), Second Economic Committee, Second Economy Commission, Secretariat, State Affairs Commission, State Security Department, VMar Kwon Yong Jin (GPB), Worker Peasant Red Guard, Workers' and Social Organizations, Young Red Guard.

An affiliate of 38 North