Political Bureau Meeting Held

Kim Jong Un speaks during an April 9, 2018 meeting of the WPK Political Bureau (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

KJU’s last observed appearance was his attendance at a concert by ROK singers and musicians at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater on April 1

A meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Political Bureau was held on April 9 (Monday).  Attending the meeting were members and alternate (candidate) members of the Political Bureau, along with Vice Premiers of the DPRK Cabinet.  The meeting was held to formulate and authorize policies prior to the convocation of the sixth session of the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] on April 11 (Wednesday).

With the authorization of the Political Bureau, Kim Jong Un [Kim Cho’ng-u’n] chaired the meeting which discussed the “execution of the state budget for Chuch’e 106 [2017] and the state budget for Chuch’e 107 [2018]” which will be on the agenda at Wednesday’s SPA session.  DPRK Premier and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Pak Pong Ju [Pak Pong-chu] delivered a report about this.  The Political Bureau “examined and ratified the state budget compilation for next year and unanimously adopted a decision for presenting it” to the SPA.

View of an April 9, 2018 meeting of the WPK Political Bureau. Seated to the left of the table (bottom to top) are: WPK Vice Chairman for Workers’ and Social Organizations Choe Hwi, DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol, WPK Vice Chairman for Science and Education Pak Thae Song and WPK Vice Chairman for Economic Affairs O Su Yong. Seated around the table counterclockwise are: SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam; DPRK Premier and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Pak Pong Ju; Chief of the KPA General Staff VMar Ri Myong Su; SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop; WPK Vice Chairman for Cadres’ Affairs Kim Phyong Hae; WPK Vice Chairman for Munitions Industry Thae Jong Su; WPK Vice Chairman for International Affairs Ri Su Yong; Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Pak Yong Sik; WPK Vice Chairman for and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department Pak Kwang Ho; and, WPK Vice Chairman, State Affairs Vice Chairman and WPK Organization Guidance Department Director Choe Ryong Hae. Seated to the right of the table (top to bottom) are: WPK Vice Chairman for Light Industry An Jong Su; WPK Vice Chairman for South Korean Affairs and UFD Director Kim Yong Chol; Minister of People’s Security Gen. Choe Pu Il; and WPK Vice Chairman for General Affairs Pak Thae Dok (Photo: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un then delivered a report on the DPRK’s “on the development of the recent situation on the Korean peninsula.”  He referred to “the north-south summit and talked to be held at the ‘House of Peace’ in the south side portion of P’anmunjo’m on April 27” and “made a profound analysis and appraisal of the orientation of the development of the north-south relations at present and the prospect of the DPRK-US dialogue.”  Kim Jong Un “set forth the strategic and tactical issues to be maintained by the WPK including the future policy of international relations and the orientation corresponding to them.”

Members of the WPK Political Bureau vote to adopt reports and proposals for the state budget to be submitted to the SPA. Senior officials visible in this photo include: Im Chol Ung, Ri Man Gon, Kim Nung O, Gen. Ri Yong Gil, Jong Kyong Thaek, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Su Gil and Jo Yon Jun (Photo: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

He “pointed out in detail the recent work of the members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea” and stress was placed upon “the need for them to give fuller play to their responsibility and role as the commanding members of the revolution.”  Jong Un called “upon all fields and units of the state to constantly hold the revolutionary banner of self-reliance, carry out without fail the tasks this year, the third year of carrying out the five-year strategy for national economic development with all their technological forces and economic potentials and thus make a breakthrough in revitalizing the overall economy.”