On Wednesday, reports surfaced that North Korea’s Minister of Chemical Industry had been quietly replaced. This move follows Kim Jong Un’s recent dismissal of a Deputy Prime Minister during an economic inspection tour, along with other ministerial changes. Analysts suggest these actions may signal an impending high-intensity purge within the North Korean cabinet.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported that Comrade Kim Sun Myung, the new Minister of Chemical Industry, delivered the inaugural speech at the opening ceremony of a catalyst production facility at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex.
Kim Sun Myung is the first individual to be identified as the Minister of Chemical Industry in the North Korean state. Before this announcement, the last mention of a chemical industry minister in Rodong Sinmun was in June of the previous year, referring to Kim Chol, who had been appointed in December 2023.
While the exact timing of the ministerial change remains unclear, it likely occurred during the Workers’ Party plenary meeting last December, where urgent tasks to be addressed before the 9th Party Congress were discussed. This meeting also coincided with the disappearance of former Premier Kim Tok Hun from public view, suggesting a broader shake-up among economic elites.
In a dramatic move on Monday, Kim Jong Un publicly fired Deputy Prime Minister Yang Seung Ho during the completion ceremony for the first phase of renovations at the Yongseong Machine Complex in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province. North Korean media published Kim’s speech in Rodong Sinmun, reporting that it included a stark warning telling the deputy prime minister to leave immediately. At the same time, there was still time before it was too late.
Kim Jong Un also criticized former Premier Kim Tok Hun, now serving as Economic Secretary, saying that not only the former premier but also those responsible for policy guidance who simply stood by during the Yongseong Machine Complex renovation should be held accountable, underscoring the regime’s call for strict discipline among all officials.
He further remarked that there were numerous issues within the administrative ranks, casting doubt on the overall process of appointing officials.
These developments suggest that Kim Jong Un has already conducted a thorough review of key economic projects and implemented rigorous inspections and personnel changes since the December plenary meeting. The sudden dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister Yang indicates that this scrutiny is ongoing. Observers anticipate a politically charged atmosphere to persist leading up to the 9th Party Congress, expected to be held in February.