SEOUL, September 3 (AJP) - North Korea has revised the rules governing its ruling Workers' Party to solidify leader Kim Jong-un's power and streamline decision-making structures for wartime and other similar emergencies, according to an analysis revealed by South Korea's Institute for National Security Strategy at a press briefing in Seoul on Thursday.
The institute said the revisions, adopted at the party's ninth congress in February, further strengthened Kim's power, giving him a greater say in appointing and dismissing senior party officials, making decisions on party membership, and expelling members for serious misconduct.
Other changes included the introduction of wartime provisions for the first time since the party's founding, allowing the powerful politburo to make major decisions when a plenary session of the party's central committee cannot be held during a war or other emergency situations.
Leadership elections can also be suspended in emergencies, allowing senior party officials to discuss and make key decisions under delegated authority.
Analysts from the institute said the changes appear intended to institutionalize North Korea's leadership structure, further consolidating Kim's grip on power and paving the way for his prolonged rule by clearly laying out his authority.
The revised rules also removed remaining references to South Korea and reunification between the two Koreas, reflecting Pyongyang's increasingly hostile stance toward Seoul. However, the institute pointed out that the North has not included expressions like "hostile state" or "belligerent state" to refer to the South.
The party's eligible age for membership was raised from 18 to 20, a change analysts say is more likely to reflect current practice than to signal a possible succession plan involving Kim's daughter, Ju-ae.
The institute said the revisions, adopted at the party's ninth congress in February, further strengthened Kim's power, giving him a greater say in appointing and dismissing senior party officials, making decisions on party membership, and expelling members for serious misconduct.
Other changes included the introduction of wartime provisions for the first time since the party's founding, allowing the powerful politburo to make major decisions when a plenary session of the party's central committee cannot be held during a war or other emergency situations.
Leadership elections can also be suspended in emergencies, allowing senior party officials to discuss and make key decisions under delegated authority.
Analysts from the institute said the changes appear intended to institutionalize North Korea's leadership structure, further consolidating Kim's grip on power and paving the way for his prolonged rule by clearly laying out his authority.
The revised rules also removed remaining references to South Korea and reunification between the two Koreas, reflecting Pyongyang's increasingly hostile stance toward Seoul. However, the institute pointed out that the North has not included expressions like "hostile state" or "belligerent state" to refer to the South.
The party's eligible age for membership was raised from 18 to 20, a change analysts say is more likely to reflect current practice than to signal a possible succession plan involving Kim's daughter, Ju-ae.
The institute also warned that if North Korea agrees to resume talks with the U.S., Pyongyang is likely to demand more concessions than before. It believes North Korea's growing military ties with Russia would give it greater bargaining power and that it no longer sees denuclearization as a condition for negotiations.
AJP Takeaways
• South Korea's Institute for National Security Strategy said on Sept. 3, 2026, that North Korea revised its Workers' Party rules at its ninth congress in February 2026, expanding leader Kim Jong-un's power over senior appointments, party membership, and expulsions.
• The revisions added first-ever wartime provisions letting the politburo make major decisions when a full central committee session can't be held, and allow leadership elections to be suspended in emergencies.
• The rules dropped references to South Korea and reunification and raised the party membership age from 18 to 20, which analysts linked to existing practice rather than a succession plan involving Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae.
• The revisions added first-ever wartime provisions letting the politburo make major decisions when a full central committee session can't be held, and allow leadership elections to be suspended in emergencies.
• The rules dropped references to South Korea and reunification and raised the party membership age from 18 to 20, which analysts linked to existing practice rather than a succession plan involving Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae.
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