Pyongyang: North Korea has initiated a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, state media reported Wednesday, as Pyongyang gears up for a significant party congress that could reveal North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s strategic plans for military and economic development.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the enlarged 13th plenary meeting of the party’s Eighth Central Committee convened the previous day. The meeting, led by Kim, was attended by key central committee members, government ministry officials, and observers, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The meeting approved five agenda items for discussion, including the review of this year’s party and state policy implementations and other major issues related to the preparations for the party’s ninth congress, KCNA stated.
The year-end plenary party meeting typically spans several days, focusing on reviewing the year’s policy implementation and setting the trajectory for future policies.
This year’s meeting holds added importance as it precedes the anticipated party’s ninth congress. South Korean intelligence authorities expect the congress to take place in February, where the country is likely to announce another five-year national economic development plan and possibly outline its foreign policy direction.