Party Central Committee convenes 13th plenary meeting in Pyongyang
The Workers’ Party’s 13th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee (Image: KCNA)
The ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) convened the 13th plenary meeting of its 8th Central Committee on December 9 in Pyongyang, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
The expanded session brought together members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee, full and alternate members of the Political Bureau, Central Committee members, and officials from ministries, provincial organs, enterprises, and the military.
Chaired by Kim Jong-un, the plenary elected its executive body and discussed five agenda items, including a review of 2025 party and state policy implementation, assessment of the Central Inspection Commission’s work, and preparations for the upcoming 9th Party Congress.
This meeting reflects a broader trend under Kim’s leadership, where plenary sessions of the WPK Central Committee have become regularized and institutionalized. Since 2018, such gatherings have been convened annually, often several per year, and served as platforms to review policies, announce directives, and prepare for major congresses.
In contrast, under Kim’s father, Kim Jong-il, plenary meetings were sporadic. Only a handful were held during his 18-year rule. His governance style, as befitting his “military-first” posture, was characterized more by closed-door decision-making rather than structured party gatherings.
The increased frequency of plenary sessions under Kim Jong-un demonstrates his emphasis on formalized party governance and collective leadership, even though decision-making remains highly centralized.
These meetings function as important tools for signaling policy directions to domestic elites and the population, while also reinforcing Kim’s authority through visible institutional mechanisms.
The current plenary, in particular, sets the stage for the 9th Party Congress, where new economic and military strategies are expected to be unveiled, underscoring the role of such gatherings in shaping the country’s political trajectory.
Kim Yumi, a North Korean defector, was born and raised in Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, a coastal military area. Growing up near a naval base, she was able to secretly watch South Korean news programs and TV shows, thereby uncovering the vibrant, democratic society of South Korea. Yumi and her husband made the brave decision to escape North Korea and seek a better future. Now in Seoul, she is actively involved in raising awareness about the realities of life in North Korea, especially on her YouTube channel, “@KimYumiTV.”
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