North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, met with participants of the Socialist Women's Union of Korea, a peripheral women's organization of the Workers' Party, and exemplary commanders and soldiers of construction engineering units to take commemorative photos, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported today (July 18).

His consecutive meetings with military and women's organizations within a single day are interpreted as a move to directly engage with various social strata to induce loyalty and promote regime unity.

According to the KCNA, General Secretary Kim met with the newly elected chairwoman and vice-chairwomen of the 8th Congress of the Socialist Women's Union, held in Pyongyang from July 13 to 14, and encouraged the participants by shaking their hands.

During the event, General Secretary Kim stated, "The journey of the past five years is clearly marked by the devotion of our women, who are the strongest, most steadfast, diligent, and wise, and who have provided powerful momentum to the advancement of the motherland."

He added, "The role of the Women's Union as educators and organizers has clearly proven that when women unite with a single will and orientation, and combine their wisdom, strength, and passion, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome and no ideals that cannot be achieved."

He further urged, "Having a powerful patriotic group of women is the greatest pride of our Party and a great strength of our state," adding, "We must firmly safeguard the revolutionary nature of our women, who follow only the path pointed out by the Party, as well as the pure and beautiful nature inherent to Korean women."

On the same day, Kim Jong-un also met with commanders and soldiers of the engineering units who had set examples at construction sites.

The KCNA reported that General Secretary Kim expressed his "conviction that all commanders and soldiers of the units will continue to achieve remarkable results awaited by the motherland and the people this year as well, standing at the forefront of the construction revolution to build assets of lasting value."

This appears to be a move to boost the morale of soldiers mobilized on a large scale for construction sites to support the '20x10 Regional Development Policy,' a key priority project for Kim Jong-un, and to encourage the achievement of this year's goals.

(Photo: KCNA, Yonhap News)