N. Korea to hold major parliamentary meeting this month
- 8 years ago
North Korea is gearing up for yet another big political gathering.
The Supreme People's Assembly will open around a month after the regime's once-in-a-generation Workers' Party congress... and more changes could be afoot.
Connie Kim reports.
North Korea will convene its Supreme People's Assembly later this month, as a follow-up to its Workers' Party congress in May.
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that the fourth session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly will take place on June 29th in Pyongyang.
The assembly is the highest branch of state power in North Korea that establishes basic principles for domestic and foreign policy, adopts the state budget and approves decisions by the state leadership.
Many North Korea watchers in Seoul say the meeting is expected to further lay out the details of North Korea's economic and nuclear development plan.
They say the fact the meeting has been scheduled for a month after the landmark party congress could mean more changes are on the horizon.
"The Supreme People's Assembly is the first meeting after the party congress. It is significant, because the North is expected to conduct a personnel reshuffle that's outside of the Workers' Party."
There has also been speculation that Kim Jong-un -- who is currently the first chairman of the National Defense Commission,... which oversees the nation's armed forces -- could change his title as part of his efforts to consolidate his rule.
He ascended to the position two days after he was made the first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2012.
"Seoul's unification ministry has echoed the prediction,... and some experts say it's part of Kim's efforts to shift away from the military-first policy of his father.
Connie Kim, Arirang News."
The Supreme People's Assembly will open around a month after the regime's once-in-a-generation Workers' Party congress... and more changes could be afoot.
Connie Kim reports.
North Korea will convene its Supreme People's Assembly later this month, as a follow-up to its Workers' Party congress in May.
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that the fourth session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly will take place on June 29th in Pyongyang.
The assembly is the highest branch of state power in North Korea that establishes basic principles for domestic and foreign policy, adopts the state budget and approves decisions by the state leadership.
Many North Korea watchers in Seoul say the meeting is expected to further lay out the details of North Korea's economic and nuclear development plan.
They say the fact the meeting has been scheduled for a month after the landmark party congress could mean more changes are on the horizon.
"The Supreme People's Assembly is the first meeting after the party congress. It is significant, because the North is expected to conduct a personnel reshuffle that's outside of the Workers' Party."
There has also been speculation that Kim Jong-un -- who is currently the first chairman of the National Defense Commission,... which oversees the nation's armed forces -- could change his title as part of his efforts to consolidate his rule.
He ascended to the position two days after he was made the first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2012.
"Seoul's unification ministry has echoed the prediction,... and some experts say it's part of Kim's efforts to shift away from the military-first policy of his father.
Connie Kim, Arirang News."