Rare party-government-military meeting exposes Pak Hui-chol’s alleged bribery, embezzlement and abuse of personnel authority
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signing documents during the first enlarged meeting of the ninth Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea at the headquarters of the party’s Central Committee in Pyongyang, North Korea, 09 July 2026. Photo by KCNA / EPA
North Korea convened a rare joint meeting of ruling party, government and military officials to disclose corruption allegations against a senior military political officer and discuss his punishment, state media reported Saturday.
The meeting was held in Pyongyang on Friday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in attendance, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The case involved Pak Hui-chol, deputy director of the Organization Department of the Korean People’s Army General Political Bureau. He was accused of abuse of power, corruption, illicit accumulation of wealth, bribery and selling government and military positions.
North Korea said Pak had been punished but did not disclose the type or severity of the penalty.
KCNA said Pak placed close associates and flatterers in important positions, undermining the party’s system of unified command over the military.
The state news agency also accused him of seizing large amounts of state funds, supplies and housing and using them to finance an extravagant lifestyle. It said he repeatedly neglected the implementation of the party’s military leadership policies.
KCNA described Pak’s conduct as an “extremely serious crime” whose danger and harmful effects exceeded imagination.
“As a result of the strict anti-corruption campaign, our army was able to promptly remove the remaining poisonous elements within its military-political leadership apparatus,” KCNA said.
The campaign would provide momentum for the military to renew its combat readiness and standing, it added.
Kim said the fundamental problem was that an official entrusted with the authority to prevent, detect and eliminate illicit enrichment had instead used that authority to pursue personal interests and become the central figure in corruption.
He called on disciplinary and investigative bodies across the country to remain vigilant.
KCNA said Kim declared the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee’s firm intention to intensify organizational and ideological efforts to improve the quality of the leadership ranks and strengthen legal measures aimed at uprooting corruption.
The decision to punish Pak at a joint meeting of party, government and military officials is seen as an attempt to present the campaign against entrenched military corruption as a nationwide example.
The allegation that Pak undermined the party’s unified command system also suggests that the accusations extended beyond financial crimes and involved questions of political loyalty and control.
The General Political Bureau is responsible for political oversight, personnel affairs and ideological discipline within the military, making Pak’s position particularly influential.
Some observers say the case may also have affected the recent return of Jo Yong Won to a senior role in the party’s Organization and Guidance Department.
North Korea has not officially linked Jo’s personnel status to the corruption case.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260711010004046
