North Korean House of Cards

Image 13: National Security meeting reportedly held on January 25, 2013. From Kim Jong-un’s
left are: Kim Kye-gwan, Kim Yong-il, General Kim Won-hong, General Choe Ryong-hae, General
Hyon Yong-chol, Hong Sung-mu, and Pak To-chun. (Source: KCNA)
On February 3, 2013, North Korean media reported that Kim Jong-un
chaired an expanded meeting of the KWP CMC, 287 which was attended by the staff
of the KPA Supreme Command, commanding officers of KPA large combined units
(dae-yeon-hap bu-dae), senior commanders of the KPA Navy, KPA Air and Anti-Air
Forces, and the KPA SRF Command. Characterized as an “enlarged meeting of
the CMC,” this was the first time North Korean media published photographs of an
important military gathering. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss “the issue
of bringing about a great turn in bolstering up the military capability, true to the
Songun [‘Military First’] revolutionary leadership of the KWP, and an organizational
issue.” 288 At the meeting, Kim Jong-un delivered a speech “which serves as guidelines
for further strengthening of the KPA into a matchless revolutionary army of Mt.
Paektu and defending the security and sovereignty of the country as required by the
Party and the developing revolution.” 289 Many Pyongyang-watchers believed that
this was part of the authorization process for a nuclear test. 290
287 Nodong Sinmun, February 3, 2013.
288 “Enlarged Meeting of Central Military Commission of WPK Held under Guidance of Kim
Jong Un” KCNA. February 3, 2013.
289 Michael Madden, “Kim Jong Un Chairs Meeting of Party Central Military Commission and
KPA Senior Command,” North Korea Leadership Watch, February 3, 2013.
290 Ibid. The “CMC is one body [the NDC being the other in joint coordination] which authorizes
and has oversight of military industry production, research and development.”
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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