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| 2026-01-21 14:03:39
N Korea-chemical minister
N. Korea replaces chemical industry minister ahead of party congress
SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to have replaced the chemical industry minister, according to state media Wednesday, as leader Kim Jong-un is dialing up discipline among officials ahead of a key party congress.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Chemical Industry Minister Kim Sun-myong delivered a speech at a completion ceremony for a catalyst production line at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in South Pyongan Province the previous day.
Kim Chol-ha was North Korea's last-reported chemical industry minister doubling as vice premier, with the KCNA reporting on his attendance at the inauguration of a melamine resin production line at a fertilizer complex in Hungnam on June 9 last year.
Wednesday's report suggests the North replaced the chemical industry minister after mid-2025.
The KCNA did not elaborate on whether the chemical industry minister had been replaced or when and why the reshuffle was made, though it appears linked to Kim's ongoing tightening of discipline.
In his Monday speech, the North's leader cited "incidents" at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex as demonstrating the irresponsibility of the then vice premier, suggesting Kim Chol-ha may also have been dismissed for lax discipline.
North Korea appears to be tightening discipline among economic officials ahead of the upcoming ninth party congress, where the regime is expected to outline an economic development vision and conduct a personnel reshuffle.
The report followed as Kim fired Vice Premier Yang Sung-ho at an inauguration ceremony for a modernization project at a machine complex Monday over the official's irresponsibility involving the project.
In his speech at the ceremony, Kim accused some Cabinet cadres of having an "inveterate way of work" and being "unfaithful to their own duties and incompetent."
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