Kim Jong-un, facing a loss of confidence following the failed military satellite launch and economic challenges, refrained from delivering a speech at the Plenary Meeting

The 8th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) took place in Pyongyang from June 16th to 18th. This meeting, the third of its kind in the first half of the year, is a departure from the usual frequency. It is believed to be indicative of North Korea's economic challenges. Notably, Kim Jong-un's decision not to deliver a speech at the meeting has been interpreted as a manifestation of his wavering confidence. 

The meeting brought together Kim Jong-un, members and alternate members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and members of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party. The participants engaged in discussions and deliberations on six agenda items of significance.

The agenda of the meeting encompassed several key topics, including:

1. Vigorous implementation of major policies for the current year's challenges, emphasizing bold and decisive actions;
2. Introducing groundbreaking measures to enhance the development of the education sector;
3. Significantly elevating the role and responsibilities of various People's Committees;
4. Addressing issues concerning the strengthening of popular sovereignty;
5. Implementing important measures to deepen the construction of party regulations;
6. Discussing organizational matters related to the party's structure and functioning.

The 8th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea took place from June 16th to 18th at the Office Building of the Central Committee of the WPK in Pyongyang, as reported by Rodong Sinmun on the 19th. / Rodong Sinmun

One notable aspect of this meeting is that Kim Jong-un presided over it but did not deliver a speech. North Korean state media, including Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central News Agency, reported on the 8th Plenary Meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, which took place for three days from the 16th to the 18th. However, they did not cover the content of Kim Jong-un's report or speech. It is the first time since Kim Jong-un's leadership that no speech or statement has been reported after 15 previous meetings. The government speculates that this may be related to recent failures such as the military satellite launch and other lackluster achievements that were critically mentioned at the previous plenary session.

The frequent convening of the Plenary Meeting in the first half of the year is unusual for North Korea, suggesting unfavorable internal economic conditions. In particular, the prices of rice and corn in the North Korean free market have been steadily increasing. As of June 11th, the price of rice reached 5,500-6,000 won per kilogram, while the average price of corn stood at 2,933 won per kilogram. These prices represent the highest in the past five years. According to the National Intelligence Service, there are reports of food shortages in North Korea estimated to be three times higher than usual.

North Korean state media reports about the meeting lacked objective achievements in the economic and social sectors, with the exception of the construction sector. The Ministry of Unification, in separate reference materials, commented on the absence of Kim Jong-un's speech and the tendency to attribute difficulties to external and internal factors. This indicates a lack of confidence and a decline in the ability to overcome the shortcomings of the five-year plan.

While North Korea claims to have overcome early-year instability and achieved high growth rates in the first half of the year, they did not provide specific achievements. They emphasized the achievement of irrigation construction goals and highlighted the supply of dairy products but fell short of presenting concrete results in other areas of the economy.

In the military and external fields, North Korea admitted the failure of the military satellite launch and maintained a stance of confrontation with the United States. They revealed the previously undisclosed fact of the failed military satellite launch (on May 31) and acknowledged it as the "most serious shortcoming" in the military sector for the first half of the year. However, the responsibility was attributed to the personnel involved (showing his irresponsibility), and they pledged to relaunch it in the near future, announcing the establishment of an organization for space industry to be presented to the Supreme People's Assembly. North Korea had previously established the National Aerospace Development Administration under the cabinet in April 2013, and it is expected to expand its organization and functions as a comprehensive body in the future.

Additionally, North Korea reiterated its position of attributing the deteriorating conditions to the United States and South Korea, emphasizing the need to strengthen self-defense capabilities. They vowed to respond with a powerful and offensive approach based on the principle of "action for action." They reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing nuclear capability reduction efforts and expressed solidarity with other nations opposing the United States.

In the political arena, North Korea emphasized the importance of strengthening party control and delegated responsibility to local officials. They emphasized the role of chairpersons of provincial, city, and county people's committees and addressed underperforming chairpersons.

As the term of the National People's Congress approached its end in July, North Korea hinted at potential changes in the election process. They emphasized the significance of establishing party rules and mentioned the convergence of the five-party line for party construction in the new era, as well as the strengthening of security and safety agencies.

In terms of personnel changes, a notable development in the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea is the replacement of the economic director. North Korea announced that Oh Su-yong has been appointed as the party secretary and the economic director. Oh Su-yong, who had been responsible for the electronics industry for more than a decade since 1999, previously held the position of Vice-Premier of the DPRK Cabinet and served as the party secretary and economic director from 2014. He stepped down as the economic director in June of the previous year but returned after a year.

Hardliner Kim Yong-chol became an advisor to the United Front Department of the Workers' Party of Korea and entered the Politburo as a candidate member. Minister of Defense Kang Sun-nam was promoted from a candidate member to a full member of the Politburo. Kim Jae-ryong, the party's discipline secretary, was not identified, raising the possibility of personnel changes in the discipline sector.