North Korea recently held its ninth Workers’ Party Congress and carried out a large-scale personnel reshuffle, and signs have emerged that several provincial and city party secretaries have also been replaced, according to information confirmed on March 6. Four of the 13 secretaries heading party committees in directly governed cities and provinces appear to have been replaced, suggesting that personnel changes among regional working-level officials were also carried out on at least a moderate scale.
The ruling party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported that military-civilian rallies were held in 6 areas (North Pyongan Province, South Hwanghae Province, Kangwon Province, North Hamgyong Province, Nampo City and Kaesong City). The events were part of propaganda efforts aimed at driving the implementation of decisions adopted at the party congress.
In its coverage of the regional events, the newspaper disclosed the names of the provincial and city party secretaries who delivered speeches. The reports confirmed that the South Hwanghae Provincial Party Committee secretary was replaced from Pak Tae-dok to Kil Bong-chan, the North Hamgyong Provincial Party Committee secretary from Kim Yong-hwan to Kim Du-il, and the Kaesong City Party Committee secretary from Kim Yong-gyu to Pak Sung-chol.
In addition, coverage published the previous day on a military-civilian rally in Yanggang Province confirmed that the provincial party secretary had changed from Ri Tae-il to Kim Ryong-il.
The newspaper listed both the Jagang Province and Kaesong City party committee secretaries as Pak Sung-chol, which experts believe likely refers to two different individuals with the same name.
In North Korea, provincial and city party secretaries serve as the top officials of local party organizations. They hold substantial authority delegated from the central party and play a key role in executing party decisions and policies. Although each city and province also has a people’s committee chairman — roughly comparable to a mayor — North Korea concentrates state power within the Workers’ Party, giving party secretaries broader authority than administrative officials.
The upcoming Supreme People’s Assembly, the country’s parliament-like legislature, is also expected to formally establish mechanisms to implement the party congress decisions. Major personnel changes within the Cabinet are anticipated as well, particularly among vice premiers and minister-level officials.