Kim Jong Un’s reported appearances in October were dominated by domestic politics, not least because of some substantial but routine personnel changes in the Party’s Central Committee.

On DPRK politics, two things stand out in domestic reporting. First, there is more evidence of policy splits within the ruling party. In an important speech, Kim Jong Un felt it necessary to defend party policies, emphasized that the economy had not been forgotten, and demanded party unity.

Secondly, Kim Jong Un’s sister (Kim Yo Jong) and wife (Ri Sol Ju) were both promoted. This