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The following is a list of national meetings of the Workers' Party of Korea. This article defines national meetings as party congresses (Korean: 조선로동당 당대회) and conferences of party representatives (Korean: 조선로동당 대표자회).
The party Congress is nominally the highest body of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) according to its charter.[1] The charter stated specifically that it should convene at least every fifth year; however, the congress has historically never managed to be convened in that time frame.[2] There was a gap of 36 years between the 6th Congress and the 7th Congress. However, two party conferences were convened in the period 2010–2012.[2] The 3rd Party Conference in 2010 formally deleted the five-year clause from the party charter,[3] but it was later restored at the 8th Congress in 2021.[4]
The Congress hears the reports of central authorities, makes amendments to the party's charter, sets the party's political line,[5] elects the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, elects the Central Committee and elects the Central Auditing Commission. The 1st Plenary Session of the elected Central Committee then elects the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Central Military Commission and other bodies of the Central Committee.[2] Despite this, as Fyodor Tertitskiy notes, "When it comes to the supreme leader of North Korea, it is not his position that makes him a leader; it is the person who makes a position one of leadership. Kim Jong Un may be called supreme commander, first chairman or even God-Emperor — it does not matter; he is in charge by right of bloodline."[2] For example, Kim Jong Un's election as Chairman of the WPK at the 7th Party Congress did not mean that said Congress was previously empowered to make decisions independent of Kim Jong Un.[2]
- ^ Savada, Andrea Matles, ed. (1993). "North Korea – The Korean Workers' Party (KWP)". North Korea: A Country Study. Library of Congress Country Studies. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Tertitskiy, Fyodor (May 2, 2016). "What happens at a North Korean Party Conference or Congress". NK News. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^ Gause, Ken E., ed. (2011). North Korea Under Kim Chong-il: Power, Politics, and Prospects for Change. Praeger Pub Text.
- ^ "Historical Event Laying Foundation for Developing Glorious Party. Fifth-day Sitting of 8th WPK Congress Held". Korean Central News Agency. January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- ^ Kim 1982, p. 126.