CaliToday (12/12/2025): The message from North Korea’s latest plenary meeting is stark and bifurcated: For the domestic bureaucracy, a winter of purging and discipline awaits; but for the soldiers fighting in the trenches of Ukraine, glory and praise are in full supply.
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| The North Korean leader praised Pyongyang's soldiers fighting against Ukraine alongside Russia (STR) |
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped up a pivotal three-day meeting of the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee on Thursday, setting a combative tone for 2026. The sessions, which serve as a prelude to the major Party Congress scheduled for early next year, revealed a leader emboldened by foreign alliances but increasingly paranoid about internal efficiency.
1. The Domestic Purge: Rooting Out "Evil"
While state media often carries reports of Kim’s "field guidance," the rhetoric emerging from this meeting was unusually vitriolic regarding internal governance.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim launched a blistering attack on his own top officials, accusing them of "wrong ideological viewpoints" and "inactive and irresponsible work attitudes."
The "Deviations": The report cited numerous "deviations in discipline" a thinly veiled euphemism for corruption and insubordination.
The Ultimatum: Kim vowed to root out these "evils," signaling a potential widespread purge of the mid-to-high-level bureaucracy before the 2026 Congress.
The Goal: The regime appears desperate to tighten economic and social controls as the country navigates the "global geopolitical changes" Kim referenced likely referring to the solidified bloc of anti-Western nations.
2. The Blood Alliance: Glory for the "Ever-Victorious" Army
In sharp contrast to the scolding delivered to suit-wearing officials, Kim reserved his highest praise for the troops deployed to the Russian frontlines.
Despite South Korean intelligence estimates indicating grim realities at least 600 North Korean soldiers dead and thousands wounded—Kim framed their deployment as a projection of national power. He declared their involvement demonstrated the "prestige of our army" as a "genuine protector of international justice."
The Strategic calculation: Analysts believe this praise confirms Pyongyang’s long-term commitment to the war in Ukraine.
"Kim's rhetoric signals that the deployment is not a one-off transaction but a structural shift in North Korean foreign policy," said Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher. "They are likely positioning themselves for lucrative reconstruction contracts in Russia post-war, paid for with Russian military tech and energy."
3. Diplomatic Cold Shoulder: Ghosting Trump and Lee
Perhaps the most telling aspect of the meeting was what was not said. The readout contained zero mentions of South Korea or the United States.
This silence is deafening given the current political climate:
Ignoring the South: South Korea’s dovish President, Lee Jae-myung, recently offered a controversial apology for his predecessor’s drone incursions in a bid to thaw relations. Pyongyang has ignored the olive branch entirely.
Ignoring Washington: Even with Donald Trump back in the White House—a leader who once claimed to be "in love" with Kim—Pyongyang is no longer interested in photo-ops. Trump’s hope for a meeting during his October Asia tour was met with indifference.
The Takeaway: Emboldened by Russian food, fuel, and advanced missile technology, Kim Jong Un no longer feels the need to negotiate sanctions relief with Washington or Seoul. He has found an alternative economic lifeline in Moscow.
4. Gunpowder Diplomacy
Underscoring this new confidence, the meeting coincided with a show of force. As the Central Committee convened on Tuesday, the North fired a salvo of artillery from a modernized multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS).
Kim hailed these efforts to "modernize" defenses, a clear signal that while he sends troops to Europe, his primary arsenal remains pointed squarely at the Korean Peninsula.