North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to improve living standards as he opened the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang, a five-yearly meeting that sets policy direction on defence, diplomacy and the economy.
“Today, our party is faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks of boosting economic construction and the people’s standard of living, and transforming all realms of state and social life as early as possible,” said Kim, in his opening speech at the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
He added that North Korea had overcome its “worst difficulties” over the past five years and was entering a period of renewed confidence.
The congress, attended by roughly 5,000 delegates including senior WPK officials, is being closely monitored for signals on North Korea’s nuclear programme, relations with the United States and South Korea, and potential succession plans.
South Korea’s spy agency said last week it was monitoring the congress for any sign that Kim will officially designate his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his potential successor, formalising her position as heir apparent in a fourth-generation succession of the Kim family as North Korea’s leaders.
Ahead of the gathering, Kim unveiled 50 launch vehicles for nuclear-capable short-range missiles, underscoring Pyongyang’s continued military development.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
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