Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea

Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea
Chosŏn'gŭl	조선로동당 중앙위원회 정치국
Hancha	朝鮮勞動黨中央委員會政治局
Revised Romanization	Joseon Rodongdang Jungang Wiwonhoe Jeongchikuk
McCune–Reischauer	Chosŏn Rodongdang Chungang Wiwŏnhoe Chŏngch'iguk

Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

조선로동당중앙위원회정치국
Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea ; 조선로동당중앙위원회정치국
Leadership
Status	Executive WPK body between the Presidium and Central Committee, Workers' Party of Korea
Elected by	Central Committee
Responsible to	Central Committee
Seats	17

In North Korea, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), or simply the Politburo, formerly the Political Committee (1946–61), is the highest decision-making body in the ruling party between sessions of its Central Committee. Article 25 of the Party Charter stipulates that "The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee and its Standing Committee organize and direct all party work on behalf of the party Central Committee between plenary meetings. The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee shall meet at least once every month."[1] The Politburo is elected by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

History

Until April 1956, the Politburo was known as the Political Council.[2] After Kim Il Sung's unitary ruling system was established in the 1960s, the Politburo was transformed from a decision-making body where policies could be discussed into a rubber stamp body.[3] Leading members have disappeared without explanation; the last was Kim Tong-gyu, in 1977.[4] Politburo members under Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lacked a strong power base, and depended on the party leader for their position.[4] Because of this, the Politburo became a loyal servant of the party leader.[4]

The Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) of the Workers' Party of Korea was established at the 6th Congress in 1980, and became the highest WPK body when the Politburo and the Central Committee were not in session.[5] With the death of O Jin-u in 1995, Kim Jong Il remained the only member of the Politburo Standing Committee still alive; the four others (Kim Il Sung, Kim Il, O Jin-u, and Ri Jong-ok) died in office.[6] Between O Jin-u's death and the 3rd Conference, there were no reports indicating that Kim Jong Il or the central party leadership was planning to renew the PSC composition.[7]

Similar to the Central Committee, the Politburo was dormant during much of Kim Jong Il's rule;[8] however, the 3rd Conference elected new Politburo members.[8] While many foreign observers believed it would signify a generational shift, it did not; the youngest member was 53 years old, and the average age was 74 (with 12 over age 80).[8] The majority of new members were aides to Kim Jong Il or Kim family members.[8] Kim Kyong-hui (Kim Jong Il's sister) and Jang Song-thaek (Kim Kyong-hui's husband) were appointed full and candidate member, respectively.[8] Several of Jang's protégés were elected candidate members, including Ju Sang-song (Minister of People's Security), U Tong-chuk (First Deputy Director of the State Security Department) and Choe Ryong-hae (Secretary for Military Affairs).[8] Pak Jong-su (First Deputy Head of the Organization and Guidance Department), a leading facilitator of Kim Jong Un's succession, was appointed a candidate member.[8] Most of the new members were cabinet members, military officials, party secretaries or officials from the security establishment.[8] Ten members from the National Defense Commission and three deputy premiers were appointed to the Politbüro.[8] Leading economic experts (such as Hong Sok-yong and Tae Jong-su) and foreign experts (such as Kang Sok-ju, Kim Yong-il and Kim Yang-gon) became members.[8] At the 4th Conference, one-third of the Politburo was dismissed in unannounced retirements and dismissals.[9] Jang Song-thaek, Pak To-chun and Vice Marshal Kim Jong-gak were promoted from candidate to full membership; Hyon Chol-hae, Kim Won-hong and Ri Myong-su, all members of the Central Military Commission, were appointed to full Politburo membership.[10] Kwak Pom-gi, O Kuk-ryol, Ro Tu-chol, Ri Pyong-sam and Jo Yon-jun were elected candidate members.[10]

Role

Officially, the Politburo is responsible for conducting its activities as well as deciding on important issues between two Central Committee plenums and should meet once a month. Its members include important state and military leaders, as the Premier and the vice-chairmen of the State Affairs Commission.

The Politburo's inner body is the Presidium (formerly the Standing Committee), elected by the WPK Central Committee, in charge of day-to-day party work. It is usually made up of the supreme leader and four other members. In practice, the Presidium is the highest body in both the party and the country, and its decisions de facto have the force of law.[11]

Current membership

As of 8 September 2022, the Politburo is composed of 15 members and 14 alternate members, with the following line-up.

Members

	Member since	Party position(s)	State position(s)
Kim Jong Un 김정은 (born 1984)	11 April 2012	General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Politburo Presidium Member	President of the State Affairs Commission Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
Kim Tok-hun 김덕훈 (born 1962)	31 December 2019	Politburo Presidium Member	Vice President of the State Affairs Commission Premier
Jo Yong-won 조용원	10 January 2021	Politburo Presidium Member Secretary for Organizational Affairs of the Central Committee Director of the Organization and Guidance Department Member of the Central Military Commission	Member of the State Affairs Commission
Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 (born 1950)	11 April 2012	Politburo Presidium Member	First Vice President of the State Affairs Commission Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly
Pak Jong-chon 박정천	11 April 2020	Politburo Presidium Member Secretary of the Central Committee Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission	Member of the State Affairs Commission
Ri Pyong-chol 리병철	25 April 2022	Politburo Presidium Member Secretary of the Central Committee Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Ri Il-hwan 리일환 (born 1960)	31 December 2019	Secretary of the Central Committee	Member of the State Affairs Commission
Kim Jae-ryong 김재룡 (born 1959)	9 April 2019	Secretary of the Central Committee Chairman of the Central Auditing Commission
Jon Hyon-chol 전현철	8 June 2022 (alt: 10 January 2021)	Secretary of the Central Committee Director of the Economic Affairs Department	Chairman of the SPA Budget Committee
Pak Thae-song 태형철 (born 1953)	8 June 2022	Secretary of the Central Committee	Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly
Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1955)	10 January 2021	Member of the Central Military Commission	Member of the State Affairs Commission Minister of National Defense
Ri Thae-sop	8 June 2022 (alt: 31 December 2021)	Member of the Central Military Commission	Member of the State Affairs Commission Chief of the KPA General Staff
Jong Kyong-thaek 정경택 (born 1961)	10 April 2019	Director of the KPA General Political Bureau Member of the Central Military Commission	Member of the State Affairs Commission
Pak Jong-gun 박정근	31 December 2021		Vice Premier Chairman of the State Planning Commission
O Il-jong 오일정 (born 1954)	10 January 2021	Member of the Central Military Commission Director of the Military Leadership Department

Alternate members

	Alternate member since	Party position(s)	State position(s)
Ho Chol-man 허철만	31 December 2019	Director of the Cadre Affairs Department
Pak Thae-dok 박태덕 (born 1955)	10 January 2021	Vice Chairman of the Central Auditing Commission Director of the Discipline Investigation Department
Kim Hyong-sik 김형식	10 January 2021	Director of the Legal Department
Jo Chun-ryong 조춘륭	8 June 2022	Director of the Munitions Department
Han Kwang-sang 한광상	8 June 2022	Director of the Light Industry Department
Ri Chol-man	10 January 2021	Director of the Agriculture Department
Kim Song-nam 김성남	11 February 2021	Director of the International Department	Member of the State Affairs Commission
Ri Son-gwon 리선권	11 February 2021	Director of the United Front Department	Member of the State Affairs Commission
Ju Chol-gyu 양승호	31 December 2021		Vice Premier Minister of Agriculture
Choe Son-hui	8 June 2022		Minister of Foreign Affairs
U Sang-chol 우상철	18 June 2021		Prosecutor-General of the Central Public Prosecutors Office
Ri Chang-dae	8 June 2022	Member of the Central Military Commission	Minister of State Security
Park Su-il	8 June 2022	Member of the Central Military Commission	Minister of Public Security Chairman of the SPA Legislation Committee
Kim Yong-hwan 김영환	7 June 2020	Chief Secretary of the WPK Pyongyang City Committee

References

"Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea (28 September 2010) (조선로동당규약—2010년 9월 28일)" (PDF). September 28, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2017.
Lankov 1999, p. 47.
Buzo 1999, p. 31.
Buzo 1999, p. 32.
Kim 1982, p. 140.
Kim 2000, p. 257.
Kim 2000, pp. 257–258.
Gause 2011, p. 148.
Gause 2013, p. 40.
"Kim Jong Un Appointed "First Secretary" of Korean Workers' Party". North Korea Leadership Watch. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
"Defence Development Exhibition "Self-Defence-2021" Opens with Splendor". KCNA. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.

Bibliography

Articles, books and journal entries

Haggard, Stephen; Herman, Luke; Ryu, Jaesung (July–August 2014). "Political Change in North Korea: Mapping the Succession". Asian Survey. University of California Press. 54 (4): 773–780. doi:10.1525/as.2014.54.4.773. JSTOR 10.1525/as.2014.54.4.773.
Kim, Nam-Sik (Spring–Summer 1982). "North Korea's Power Structure and Foreign Relations: an Analysis of the Sixth Congress of the KWP". The Journal of East Asian Affairs. Institute for National Security Strategy. 2 (1): 125–151. JSTOR 23253510.
Lankov, Andrei N. (1999). "Kim Il Sung's Campaign against the Soviet Faction in Late 1955 and the Birth of Chuch'e". Korean Studies. 23 (1): 43–67. doi:10.1353/ks.1999.0003. ISSN 1529-1529. S2CID 154905899.
Staff writer (2014) [2012]. Understanding North Korea. Ministry of Unification.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)

Books

Buzo, Adrian (1999). The Guerilla Dynasty: Politics and Leadership in North Korea. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1860644147.
Gause, Ken E. (2011). North Korea Under Kim Chong-il: Power, Politics, and Prospects for Change. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0313381751.
— (2013). "The Role and Influence of the Party Apparatus". In Park, Kyung-ae; Snyder, Scott (eds.). North Korea in Transition: Politics, Economy, and Society. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 19–46. ISBN 978-1442218123.
Kim, Samuel (2000). "North Korean Informal Politics". Informal Politics in East Asia. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521645387.
Lankov, Andrei (2007). Crisis in North Korea: The Failure of De-Stalinization, 1956. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0824832070.
Suh, Dae-sook (1988). Kim Il Sung: The North Korean Leader (1st ed.). Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231065736.

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[1] "Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea (28 September 2010) (조선로동당규약—2010년 9월 28일)" (PDF). September 28, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2017.

[FOOTNOTELankov199947-2] Lankov 1999, p. 47.

[FOOTNOTEBuzo199931-3] Buzo 1999, p. 31.

[FOOTNOTEBuzo199932-4] Buzo 1999, p. 32.

[FOOTNOTEKim1982140-5] Kim 1982, p. 140.

[FOOTNOTEKim2000257-6] Kim 2000, p. 257.

[FOOTNOTEKim2000257–258-7] Kim 2000, pp. 257–258.

[FOOTNOTEGause2011148-8] Gause 2011, p. 148.

[FOOTNOTEGause201340-9] Gause 2013, p. 40.

[4thconferencepolitburo-10] "Kim Jong Un Appointed "First Secretary" of Korean Workers' Party". North Korea Leadership Watch. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.

[11] "Defence Development Exhibition "Self-Defence-2021" Opens with Splendor". KCNA. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.