Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party (Oct. 10), North Korea urged officials to change their attitude, telling them to stand on the side of the people and work.
On the 25th, Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Workers' Party of Korea, ran an article titled "Absolute faith in the people and the people's absolute trust are the source of the invincible strength of the Workers' Party of Korea," saying, "You cannot win people's hearts through coercion or temptation."
The paper said, "Even if a party was founded with the purpose of defending and realizing the people's interests, if it deviates from its fundamental ideology and mission and proceeds in an authoritarian way after holding power for a long time, its mass base will grow fragile and its foundation will be shaken, and the party that was once admirable will inevitably be pushed into the annals of history."
This article came as Kim Jong Un, the Chairperson of the State Affairs Commission, sharply questioned officials and tightened discipline during the 13th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly on the 21st–22nd. In his speech at the time, Kim instructed them to present concrete measures, saying they must "eliminate subjectivism and impulsiveness, departmentalism and vanity among economic management officials, and root out irresponsibility, ignorance, and incompetence."
Then on the 23rd, he visited Pyongyang General Hospital and rebuked officials, saying completion was delayed because rules were violated during construction. Regarding the ongoing donations for soldiers dispatched to Russia's Kursk region and their bereaved families, he was also said to have ordered the return of donations, noting that caring for them is the responsibility of the party and the state.
Kim's move to tighten discipline among officials appears to reflect a judgment that chronic ills of North Korean society—such as the overbearing attitude of public officials and bribery—could lead to public discontent. Analysts also say that, because this year marks the 80th anniversary of the party's founding and the final year of the five-year economic development plan, there is an intention to soothe public sentiment and seek internal unity to produce results.