North Korea Party Rule Changes Cement Kim's Grip on Power

North Korea's ruling Workers' Party has adopted rule changes that significantly strengthen leader Kim Jong Un's authority, according to a report by a South Korean security institute. The revisions, approved at the party's Ninth Congress in February, are seen as a move toward more centralised control.

The new rules grant the party's general secretary — a position held by Kim — explicit powers to convene and chair meetings of the Politburo and its standing committee. He can also appoint or dismiss key officials, admit or expel members, and dissolve party organisations and departments. This allows Kim to exercise direct control without depending on collective decision-making bodies.

Other changes aim to regularise party operations and tighten central oversight of government and military affairs. Central Committee plenary meetings must now be held at least once every six months. The Politburo is also authorised to decide major wartime issues when the Central Committee permits it, allowing a smaller group of senior officials to act quickly without convening the full committee.

The report noted that the revisions removed remaining references to the achievements of Kim's grandfather, state founder Kim Il Sung, and his father, former leader Kim Jong Il, while emphasising Kim's central role. The party also retained its abandonment of the longstanding unification policy toward South Korea, following Pyongyang's 2024 shift to a "two hostile states" framework.

Additional changes raised the minimum party membership age from 18 to 20 and expanded disciplinary measures against members. The institute described the revisions as part of a "Kim Jong Un era 2.0," further consolidating authority around the North Korean leader.