 The 6th Congress signified a move away from orthodox communism , with the Juche given primacy over Marxism – Leninism ; in foreign relations , an independent national policy was given primacy over proletarian internationalism . According to political analyst Kim Nam @-@ sik , " They [ changes ] represent a marked departure from the fundamental principles of communism , and a new orientation for the North Korean future in the 1980s . " In contrast to other ruling communist parties in socialist states , democratic centralism in the WPK did not hold the leader ( the WPK General Secretary ) accountable . In many ways it functioned the other way around , with the WPK accountable to the leader . This unusual system is rooted in North Korea 's leader theory . 
