7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

Kim Jong-un, Kim Yong-nam, Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae, Pak Pong-ju, Kim Ki-nam, Choe Thae-bok, Ri Yong-mu, O Kuk-ryol, Ri Myong-su, Kang Sok-ju, Kwak Pom-gi, O Su-yong, Kim Yong-chol, Yang Hyong-sop, Kim Won-hong, Kim Phyong-hae, Pak Yong-sik, Ro Tu-chol, Choe Pu-il, Jo Yon-jun, Kim Yong-jin, Im Chol-ung, Kim Tok-hun, Ri Mu-yong, Ri Chol-man, Ri Il-hwan, Ri Man-gon, An Jong-su, Choe Sang-gon, Ri Yong-rae, Kim Jong-im, Kim Jung-hyop, Kim Man-song, Hong In-bom, Kim Kyong-ok, Ri Jae-il, Choe Hwi, Ri Pyong-chol, Kim Yong-su, Jo Yong-won, Ri Yong-sik, Kim Yo-jong, Hong Sung-mu, Pak To-chun, Kim Yong-chun, Hyon Chol-hae, Ri Yong-gil, So Hong-chan, Kim Jong-gak, No Kwang-chol, Kim Jong-gwan, Yun Tong-hyon, Kim Hyong-ryong, Jo Nam-jin, Ryom Chol-song, Jo Kyong-chol, Pak Jong-chon, Yun Yong-sik, Kim Rak-gyom, Ri Yong-ju, Choe Yong-ho, Wi Song-il, Pang Tu-sop, Ri Song-guk, kYang Tong-hun, Ri Thae-sop, Pak Su-il, Kim Sang-ryong, Kim Kum-chol, Kim Yong-bok, Kim Myong-nam, Kim Song-chol, Ri Chang-han, Han Chang-sun, Yun Jong-rin, Kim Song-dok, Ri Yong-hwan, Ro Kyong-jun, Choe Yong-rim, Hong Son-ok, Kim Yong-ho, Jo Chun-ryong, Kim Chol-man, Ri Su-yong, Kim Man-su, Jang Hyok, Tong Jong-ho, Ri Ryong-nam, Kim Sung-du, Jang Ki-ho, Jang Chol, Kim Jong-suk, Kim Kye-gwan, Kim Tong-il, Jang Chang-ha, Ri Hong-sop, Ri Yong-ho, Ju Yong-sik, Jon Yong-nam, Jang Pyong-gyu, Jang Jong-nam, Kang Phil-hun, Kim Su-gil, Pak Thae-song, Kang Yang-mo, Kim Nung-o, Pak Yong-ho, Pak Thae-dok, Kim Jae-ryong, Pak Jong-nam, Jon Sung-hun, Kim Song-il, Ri Sang-won, Rim Kyong-man, Thae Jong-su, Ri Kwang-chol, Jon Kyong-son, O Mun-hyon, Pak Jong-gun, Choe Yong-dok, Ri Jong-sik, Ko Pyong-hyon, Ri Pong-dok, Jong In-guk, Choe Myong-chol, Thae Hyong-chol, Hong So-hon, Jon Il-ho[2][3]

Jon Il-chun, Kim Song-nam, Jong Myong-hak, Kim Hi-thaek, Kang Kwan-il, Kim Sung-yon, Kim Pyong-ho, Kim Jong-sik, Yun Tong-chol, Tong Yong-il, Han Kwang-sang, Choe Tu-yong, Ri Pong-chun, Song Sok-won, Kang Sun-nam, Song Yong-gon, Ko Myong-su, Kim Kwang-su, Ho Song-il, Ri Yong-chol, Ri Chol, Kim Kwang-hyok, Ho Yong-chun, Son Chol-ju, Jang Tong-un, Cha Kyong-il, O Kum-chol, Kim Myong-sik, Kang Ki-sop, Ri Kuk-jun, Song Jun-sol, Mun Myong-hak, Kim Yong-gwang, Kang Jong-gwan, Ri Hak-chol, Ri Chun-sam, Ko Kil-son, Han Ryong-guk, Ri Jong-guk, Kim Jae-song, Kim Kwang-chol, Kwon Song-ho, Choe Il-ryong, Jo Yong-chol, Kang Yong-chol, Ki Kwang-ho, Kim Kyong-jun, Kang Yong-su, Mun Ung-jo, Kang Ha-guk, Pak Chun-nam, Ri Jong-mu, Ri Chung-gil, Kim Chon-gyun, Wang Chang-uk, Yu Chol-u, Paek Pong-son, Pak Won-hak, Ri Hye-jong, An Tong-chun, Ri Chan-hwa, Hwang Sun-hui, Ju Kyu-chang, Kim Tu-il, Kang Pong-hun, Ri Sung-ho, Ju Yong-gil, Ri Myong-gil, Kim Jong-sun, Kang Yun-sok, Sin Un-hak, Kim Hyong-jun, Ji Jae-ryong, Cha Hui-rim, Kang Hyong-bong, Kim Yong-chol, Kim Tong-il, Yun Jae-hyok, Pak Chang-bom, Ham Se-jin, O Chun-yong, Cha Jin-sun, Choe Pong-ho, Jong Mong-phil, Ri Chang-gil, Jang Kyong-chol, Ri Song-gwon, Yang Sung-ho, Song Kwang-chol, Jo Hyon-mun, Kim Chung-gol, Han Song-nam, Song Ki-chol, Choe Chan-gon, Kim Kwang-nam, Myong Song-chol, Rim Chun-song, Ri Hyong-gun, Jang Myong-hak, Kim Sung-il, Jong Il-man, Kim Myong-sik, Kim Chol-su, Myong Son-yong, Ho Kwang-il, Ri Min-chol[2][4]

The 7th Central Committee held its first plenum immediately after the Congress, on 10 May, and elected the following officials.[5] Nine Vice Chairmen of the Central Committee were elected:[6] Choe Ryong-hae, Kim Ki-nam, Choe Thae-bok, Ri Su-yong, Kim Phyong-hae, O Su-yong, Kwak Pom-gi, Kim Yong-chol and Ri Man-gon.[5]

A new Presidium of the Politburo of the WPK Central Committee was elected: Kim Jong-un, Kim Yong-nam and Hwang Pyong-so – already members before – were accompanied by Choe Ryong-hae and Pak Pong-ju in it.[6]

19 members and nine alternate members were elected to the Politburo of the WPK Central Committee.[6] The members are: Kim Jong-un, Kim Yong-nam, Hwang Pyong-so, Pak Pong-ju, Choe Ryong-hae, Kim Ki-nam, Choe Thae-bok, Ri Su-yong, Kim Phyong-hae, O Su-yong, Kwak Pom-gi, Kim Yong-chol, Ri Man-gon, Yang Hyong-sop, Ro Tu-chol, Pak Yong-sik, Ri Myong-su, Kim Won-hong and Choe Pu-il. The alternate members are: Kim Su-gil, Kim Nung-o, Pak Thae-song, Ri Yong-ho, Im Chol-ung, Jo Yon-jun, Ri Pyong-chol, No Kwang-chol and Ri Yong-gil.[5]

11 members were elected to WPK Central Military Commission:[6] Kim Jong-un (Chairman), Hwang Pyong-so, Pak Pong-ju, Pak Yong-sik, Ri Myong-su, Kim Yong-chol, Ri Man-gon, Kim Won-hong, Choe Pu-il, Kim Kyong-ok, Ri Yong-gil and So Hong-chan.[5]

The following were elected Deputy Directors of the Central Committee: Kim Ki-nam, Ri Su-yong, Kim Phyong-hae, O Su-yong, Kim Yong-chol, Ri Man-gon, Ri Il-hwan, An Jong-su, Ri Chol-man, Choe Sang-gon, Ri Yong-rae, Kim Jong-im, Kim Jung-hyop, Kim Man-song and Kim Yong-su.[5]

A Control Commission of the WPK Central Committee was elected: Hong In-bom (Chairman), Jong Myong-hak (First Vice-Chairman), Ri Tuk-nam (Vice-Chairman), and members Kim Yong-hwan, Kim Kum-chol, Kim Yong-son and Kim Myong-chol.[5]

Ri Yong-sik was appointed the editor-in-chief of Rodong Sinmun.[5][6]

The second plenary meeting of the 7th Central Committee was held on 7 October 2017, one and a half year after the 7th Congress, to discuss "some immediate tasks to cope with the prevailing situation" and significant personnel changes. A decision on the first agenda item was adopted to reflect a report delivered by Kim Jong-un.[7]

Personnel changes included a large operation of retirement and replacement of older officials, including Kim Jong-il era elders Kim Ki-nam and Choe Thae-bok. The Politburo was replenished with Pak Kwang-ho, Pak Thae-song, Thae Jong-su, An Jong-su and Ri Yong-ho as full members, and Choe Hwi, Pak Thae-dok, Kim Yo-jong (Kim Jong-un's sister) and Jong Kyong-thaek as alternate members. Pak Kwang-ho, Pak Thae-song, Thae Jong-su, Pak Thae-dok, An Jong-su and Choe Hwi were also appointed vice-chairmen of the Central Committee and department directors, with Choe Ryong-hae, already a vice-chairman, also getting a department director position.[7]

Choe Ryong Hae, Ri Pyong-chol, Jong Kyong-thaek and Jang Kil-song were elected members of the Party Central Military Commission.[7]

Kim Pyong-ho was appointed the editor-in-chief of Rodong Sinmun, and Jo Yon-jun the new chairman of the Control Commission.[7]

Additional members were appointed to the Central Committee as well.[7]

The third plenum of the 7th Central Committee was convened on 20 April 2018, right before the April 2018 inter-Korean summit.[8]

Kim Jong-un declared the successful accomplishment of the strategic line of simultaneously building the economy and the nuclear armed forces set forth in March 2013, and announced that party policies would now focus on economic development. As a result of this and in preparation of the inter-Korean summit, nuclear weapon tests and construction was halted.[8]

Kim Jong-gak was appointed a Politburo member, and additional members were elected to the Central Committee.[8]

Elected as full members of the WPK Political Bureau were: Kim Jae Ryong (Kim Ch’ae-ryong), Ri Man Gon (Ri Man-ko’n), Choe Hwi (Ch’oe Hwi), Pak Thae Dok (Pak T’ae-tok), General Kim Su Gil (Kim Su-kil), Thae Hyong Chol (T’ae Hyo’ng-ch’o’l), and Colonel-General Jong Kyong Thaek (Cho’ng Kyo’ng-t’aek).

Elected as alternate (candidate) members of the WPK Political Bureau were: Jo Yong Won (Cho Yo’ng-wo’n), Kim Tok Hun (Kim Tok-hun), Ri Ryong Nam (Ri Ryong-nam), Pak Jong Nam (Pak Cho’ng-nam), Ri Hi Yong (Ri Hi-yo’ng) and Jo Chun-ryong (Cho Ch’un-ryong).

Members of the WPK Central Committee itself (this is awkward) and the WPK Central Auditing Commission were recalled and elected, or elevated.

Pak Pong Ju and Ri Man Gon were appointed WPK Vice Chairmen.

The Party Central Military Commission [CMC] had a housecleaning. Kim Jae Ryong, Ri Man Gon, Thae Jong Su (T’ae Cho’ng-su) and Kim Jo Guk (Kim Cho-kuk) were elected CMC members.

Some of the WPK Central Committee Department Directors and Senior Deputy Directors were removed from office or assigned other positions. Ri Man Gon, Jang Kum Chol (Chang Kum-ch’o’l) and Kim Tong Il (Kim To’ng-il) were appointed department directors. Jo Yong Won, Kim Jo Guk and Kim Yong Su (Kim Yo’ng-su) were appointed to the position of 1st Vice (Senior Deputy) Department Director.

Finally, the WPK’s provincial party committees saw four personnel changes: Kang Pong Hun (kang Pong-hun) was appointed Chairman of the Chagang Provincial WPK Committee; Pak Chang Ho (Pak Chang-ho) was appointed Chairman of the North Hwanghae Provincial WPK Committee; Ri Chol Man (Ri Ch’o’l-man) was appointed Chairman of the South Hwanghae WPK Committee; and, Kim Chol Sam (Kim Ch’o’l-sam) was appointed Chairman of the Namp’o WPK City Committee.

The 5th plenum of the Central Committee of the WPK took place from 28th-31st December 2019.

Members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee were recalled or by-elected: Ri Il-hwan, Ri Pyong-chol and Kim Tok Hun were by-elected as members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee. Kim Jong Gwan, Pak Jong Chon, Kim Hyong Jun, Ho Chol Man, Ri Ho-rim and Kim Il Chol were by-elected as alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee.

Vice-chairmen of the Party Central Committee were dismissed or elected: Ri Il Hwan, Kim Hyong Jun, Ri Pyong Chol and Kim Tok Hun were elected as vice-chairmen of the Party Central Committee.

Members and alternate members of the Party Central Committee were recalled or by-elected: Alternate members of the Party Central Committee Kim Hyong Jun, Han Kwang Sang, Kang Jong Gwan, Kim Kwang Chol, Kim Kyong Jun, Yang Sung Ho, Kwak Chang Sik, Pak Kwang Ju, Pak Myong Su, Ri Pong Chun and Song Sok Won were by-elected as members of the Party Central Committee and Ho Chol Man, Ri Ho-rim, O Il-jong, Kim Yong Hwan, Kim Il Chol, Kim Jong Ho, Son Yong Hun, Rim Kwang Il and Choe Sang Gon directly as members of the Party Central Committee. Jang Kwang Myong, Jon Hyon Chol, Sim Hong Bin, Ri Thae Il, Choe Kwang Il, Ri Wan Sik, Ri Yong Chol, Choe Chun Gil, Kim Hak Chol, Kim Chol, Pak Jong Gun, Jon Hak Chol, Jo Yong Dok, Sin Yong Chol, Kim Sung Jin, Mun Jong Ung, Ri Jong Gil, Choe Song Nam, Jon Hyong Gil, Kang Son, Kim Yong Bae, Kim Ki Ryong, Sin Hong Chol and Kim Yong Nam were by-elected as alternate members of the Party Central Committee.

The chairman of the Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee was elected and its members were recalled or by-elected: Ri Sang Won was elected as chairman of the Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee.

Directors of some departments of the Party Central Committee were dismissed or appointed: Ri Il Hwan, Kim Hyong Jun, Choe Hwi, Ri Pyong Chol, Kim Tok Hun, Choe Pu Il, Ho Chol Man, Ri Ho Rim, Han Kwang Sang and O Il Jong were appointed as department directors of the Party Central Committee.

First vice-directors of the departments of the Party Central Committee were appointed: Kim Tong Il, Ri Yong Gil, Kim Yo Jong and Ri Yong Sik were appointed as first vice-directors of the departments of the Party Central Committee.

Chairmen of the provincial Party committees were dismissed or appointed: Kim Yong Hwan was appointed as the Chairman of the Ryanggang Provincial Party Committee.

Cadres of state organs were dismissed or appointed: Kim Il Chol was appointed as Vice-Premier of the Cabinet and concurrently Chairman of the State Planning Commission, Jon Hak Chol as Minister of Coal Industry, Jon Myong Sik as Minister of Culture and Kim Sung Jin as President of the State Academy of Sciences.

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