Purge of local officials is a regime maintenance strategy
Since taking power in 2012, Kim Jong-un has often resorted to purges of high-ranking officials to consolidate his power. Image | KCNA
Kim Jong-un recently condemned over 40 local officials for “unforgivable, large-scale criminal offenses,” according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Using strong language, Kim said the misconduct included “drinking and entertaining” and “property violations,” KCNA reported.
Kim made the accusations at a meeting of the Expanded Secretariat of the 30th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee on January 27th. Predictably, a purge of the officials quickly followed.
The incident highlights the function of purges in North Korean politics. A purge may have multiple layers relating to economic policies and the need to maintain power. But the ultimate goal is to strengthen internal unity through fear-based politics.
The victims this time, who include officials from Nampo City and Usi County in Chagang Province, are said to have encountered difficulties while implementing Kim “20 x 10 Local Development Policy.” This initiative, unveiled in January last year, focuses on revitalizing regional economies by fostering local industry.
However, a lack of national support meant local officials had to drive the construction of factories with local resources.
In Usi County, when essential materials and equipment were not supplied on time, officials under pressure to meet construction deadlines tried to secure the necessary resources through illegal means, including state smuggling.
During this process, there was frequent drinking and entertaining, which eventually became known to the central government and led to the purge.
“Ultimately, Kim Jong-un’s anger was directed at the illegal actions of local officials, but they were trying to implement his policies,” one confidential source complained. “Officials are human too. Can’t they sit down, pour a drink, and discuss work? What could they do with no resources? How could they survive without taking bribes?”
Extension of fear-based politics
Authorities have labeled the incident a “violation of Party discipline and anti-people actions,” and as a result, disbanded the local Party committee and severely punished the officials involved.
This method of controlling the population through executions and punishments of officials is not new. Kim has purged or punished numerous officials, including high profile figures such as his own uncle, Jang Song-thaek, who was executed, and State Security head Kim Won-hong.
The purge of local officials seems to have exaggerated the issue of local corruption and deployed it to create fear and control the populace.
“The authorities are using local and central officials as sacrifices to suppress public dissatisfaction,” one source said. “Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become common to hear about residents and officials being dragged to the State Security or Ministry of Public Security.”
“In the past, the regime used the corruption of officials to calm public dissatisfaction over economic hardships and food shortages, but that approach doesn’t seem to work anymore,” he said. “By using the Ministry of Public Security and the State Security Agency, they are creating a climate of fear in society.”
Sign of regime strength or trigger for collapse?
“Kim Jong-un showed his true colors early on when he executed his uncle to secure his own power base,” one expert said. “This recent purge shows that fear-based politics is still a vital tool for him. But at the same time, it reveals the limits of his strategy for maintaining the regime.”
“It may work in the short term, it is likely to deepen public dissatisfaction and trigger internal turmoil in the long run,” he said.
Sewon is the North Korean-born founder and CEO of NK Times, a Seoul-based media outlet focused on North Korea. Drawing on his personal experience living there, he strives for transparency and accuracy in reporting, working to inform readers worldwide about the realities of North Korea.
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