Analysis North Korea’s silent leadership reshuffle supports push to solve ‘food problem’Recent plenum promoted cadres with experience in agriculture and industry as DPRK prioritizes living standards in 2023 ![]() North Korea’s recent party plenum made an open show of reshuffling senior military officials, as Kim Jong Un sacked his second-most powerful military leader. But while the images of Pak Jong Chon hanging his head in shame may have attracted the most attention, a quieter series of personnel changes reinforced major economic goals set forth at the party meeting — in particular the regime’s focus on agriculture as it seeks solutions to the “food problem.” The final report on the six-day plenum held in late December mentioned “12 major goals” for the new year, and © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. |