WPK (KWP) conference scheduled for September

According to KCNA:

WPK Conference to Be Convened
Pyongyang, June 26 (KCNA) — The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea on June 23 released a decision on convening a conference of the WPK.

The decision says:

All the Party members, servicepersons and people are now waging a dynamic general offensive full of conviction of certain victory and optimism to glorify this year marking the 65th anniversary of the WPK as a year of great changes to be specially recorded in the history of the country with the great pride and self-confidence of holding General Secretary Kim Jong Il in high esteem at the highest posts of the WPK and the revolution.

The WPK founded by President Kim Il Sung and led by Kim Jong Il has steered the sacred Korean revolution to one victory after another in its annals for more than six decades, building a socialist power, independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defence, on this land and ushering in a new era of prosperity.

We are now faced with the sacred revolutionary tasks to develop the WPK, organizer and guide of all victories of the Korean people, into an eternal glorious party of Kim Il Sung and further increase its militant function and role to glorify the country as a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation.

The Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee decides to convene early in September, Juche 99 (2010) a conference of the WPK for electing its highest leading body reflecting the new requirements of the WPK and the developing revolution in which decisive changes are taking place in the efforts to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche, the cause of building a prosperous and powerful socialist nation.

According to the New York Times:

The impending shuffle in the party leadership follows personnel changes in the military and the powerful National Defense Commission in the past year. The North’s rubber-stamp Parliament met this month to replace several cabinet members and appointed Mr. Kim’s brother-in-law, Jang Song-taek, to the No. 2 post at the defense commission. Mr. Jang is seen as a potential caretaker for Mr. Kim’s son.

According to the Choson Ilbo:

Key members of the North Korean Workers Party meet in September for the first time in 44 years, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday. The meeting was called by the Politburo and has raised expectations that leader Kim Jong-il’s son Jong-un will be officially named as his father’s successor.

According to party regulations, leading members are to meet between regular party meetings, which are held every five years to decide on key policies, but the last time that happened was in 1980, when it appointed Kim Jong-il, then the heir apparent, as member of the standing committee of the Politburo, supreme member of the party and also its military committee, officially anointing him as successor to Kim Il-sung.

North Korean Leadership Watch has more.

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4 Responses to “WPK (KWP) conference scheduled for September”

  1. Benoit says:

    First time in 44 years?

    If the last time it happened was in 1980, it means “only” 30 years.

    Also, why does the structure exist, if it is used only every 3 decades?

  2. NKeconWatch says:

    There is a difference between a KWP conference and a KWP congress. In 1980 they held the last congress. In 1966 was when they last held the last conference. You can do your own research on the differences because my own plate is full!

    Regarding your last point: If you look at a government and all of its ministries, agencies, offices, and bureaus, you will have a decent idea of how politicians of that society have dealt with past problems. The KWP is no exception. It is a large organizaiton with many members and a large portfolio. Managing it is a complicated process. If a process or procedure is still in place then it is safe to assume that it is still serving a function the leadership deems important–even if that purpose is merely to bestow an air of legitimacy on the event.

    Just because certain procedures or processes are rarely used does not make them unimportant. In fact, in this case it is the uniqueness of the process that makes the meeting so special and worhty of notice.

    A bit rambling but I hope you get the idea…

  3. Benoit says:

    OK nice to know!