North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has dismissed a top official over issues at a factory modernization project, as the country gears up for a major political conference. The move appears to be an attempt to tighten discipline among officials and push them to deliver better results before the upcoming Workers’ Party congress.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim blamed Vice-Premier Yang Sung-ho, who oversees the machine-building industry, for causing “unnecessary man-made confusion” in the modernization work at the Ryongson Machine Complex in the northeast. In a speech on Monday marking the completion of the first stage of the project, Kim said the work had suffered “not a small amount of economic loss” due to irresponsible and incompetent officials.
Kim harshly criticized Yang, saying he felt “no sense of responsibility at all” and likened him to “a goat yoked to pull an ox cart.” The North Korean leader had previously criticized Yang over related issues during a party meeting in December.
Publicly scolding and firing officials is a familiar management style for Kim, who likely aims to “create extreme tensions among senior officials” and pressure them to produce better results before the party congress, said Kwak Gil-sup of the One Korea Center website.
However, experts say the factory project’s troubles are more likely due to North Korea’s fundamental structural problems, such as its excessive focus on weapons programs and inefficient, highly centralized economy, rather than the failings of individual officials.
“Kim Jong-un has gone all-in on nuclear and missile programmes but he’s mismanaged the economy. He’s just passing the blame for his fault to a subordinate,” said Moon Seong-mook of the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.
North Korea’s economy suffered major setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many observers say the country will find it difficult to achieve significant, rapid growth due to its military-first policies, inefficient economic system, and international sanctions.
The upcoming Workers’ Party congress, the first of its kind in five years, is one of North Korea’s biggest propaganda spectacles. It is expected to review past projects, establish new priorities, and reshuffle officials.
During the congress, Kim is likely to strengthen cooperation with allies like Russia and China to drive gradual economic development, while possibly taking steps to restart long-dormant diplomacy with the United States, according to experts.