Seoul, Oct 9 (IANS) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for tightening internal discipline and eliminating behaviors that undermine the authority of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), the country’s state media reported on Thursday.
During a visit to the Party Founding Museum in Pyongyang on Wednesday, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the WPK on Friday, Kim emphasized the need to maintain “strict order and a sound discipline climate” within the party, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), as cited by Yonhap News Agency.
“We must continue to firmly consolidate discipline within the Party and promptly root out all elements and actions that weaken the prestige of its leadership,” Kim was quoted as saying.
The North Korean leader also urged party officials to reform their attitudes and avoid “evil practices” such as incompetence, irresponsibility, formalism, and abuse of power. He warned against tendencies like self-protection, expediency, and arbitrary decision-making, calling them threats to the party’s authority.
Kim was accompanied by senior members of the Praesidium of the Political Bureau, officials from the WPK Central Committee, and leading figures from various ministries and national institutions, the KCNA added.
North Korea is expected to commemorate the party’s 80th founding anniversary with a large-scale military parade, likely attended by high-level delegations from China and Russia. The country traditionally marks anniversaries ending in zero or five with major celebrations.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, will pay a three-day state visit to North Korea starting Thursday at Kim Jong-un’s invitation to join the anniversary events. The trip marks the first visit by a Vietnamese leader to Pyongyang in 18 years, underscoring the historical ties between the two nations, which established diplomatic relations in 1950.
