North Korean House of Cards

KWP Charter, the CMC “discusses and decides” on the Party’s military policy and
methods of its execution, organizes work to strengthen military industries, the
people’s militia, and all armed forces, and directs the military establishment of the
country. According to a KCNA report, during an August 25, 2013 meeting, the
CMC “discussed and decided upon practical issues of bolstering up the combat
capability of the revolutionary armed forces and increasing the defense capability
of the country in every way as required by prevailing situation and the present
conditions of the People’s Army.” 308
Image 18: Kim Jong-un chairs an expanded meeting of the KWP CMC in August 2013. According
to the report that accompanied the photograph, Kim “made an important concluding speech which
would serve as guidelines for firmly protecting the sovereignty and security of the country and
promoting the cause of the songun revolution of the Party.”
(Source: Nodong Sinmun, August 26, 2013)
According to some reporting, CMC and NDC decision-making is done
at the same time in order to ensure that the “military follows the Party’s lead.” 309 If
this is the case, decision-making most likely does not take place within the CMC.
Instead, the CMC coordinates and facilitates decisions made higher up the chain
of command. It is composed of critical military and security leaders, which ensures
that orders from the CMC have maximum support across the country’s national
308 “Kim Jong Un Guides Meeting of WPK Central Military Commission,” KCNA, August
25, 2013.
309 Author’s interviews in Seoul, April 2013.
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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