The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) Central Military Commission (CMC) held a “preliminary meeting for the fifth meeting” of the Seventh Party Congress on 23 June.

North Korean media reported the meeting was conducted through video conferencing, which suggests a subsequent meeting or meetings will follow, and that despite official denial, COVID-19 infections may have spread in parts of North Korea.

The meeting was chaired by CMC Chairman Kim Jong Un with CMC Vice-Chairman Ri Pyong Chol and “some members of the commission.”

This is the third CMC meeting since December 2019 and reflects the