Kim Jong-un Proposes New Police System to Normalize North Korea's Image
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Seoul, March 24 (NationPress) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has announced an initiative to establish a police system, which appears aimed at transforming the nation’s image from a reclusive state where public security forces have historically managed policing duties.
During the second and concluding day of the inaugural session of the newly elected 15th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), Kim stated that the assembly would consider the implementation of the "police system" in an upcoming session, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
This initiative seeks to "enhance and develop our legal and social frameworks by reforming legal statutes and creating more effective organizational structures to assure national security and societal stability," Kim explained.
He described a police system as "crucial" for state functions, stressing the necessity to elevate the management of public order, as conveyed by the Yonhap news agency, citing KCNA.
The leader urged comprehensive preparations to transition social security forces into police forces once the police structure is officially instituted, indicating that the Ministry of Social Security, responsible for overseeing public order, may be restructured into a policing entity.
An official from Seoul's unification ministry speculated that this development could signify an effort to adopt a police framework similar to that of other nations, indicating North Korea’s attempts to distance itself from its longstanding image as a secluded country.
In a related move, the Ministry of State Security, tasked with monitoring and suppressing dissent, has recently been rebranded as the state information bureau.
Additionally, the recent SPA session has also simplified the name of its Constitution from the Socialist Constitution to merely the Constitution.