The Workers’ Party said Friday its 7th congress will be convened as it’s faced with “the heavy yet sacred task” of build a thriving nation.
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While trade can account to a certain extent for the rise in disposable incomes, there has yet to be an adequate explanation for the pace at which the changes have taken place, said Simon Cockrell, a North Korea watcher who has visited the country more than 100 times in the last decade.
He added that he remained “convinced” that the Security Council should refer North Korea to the global Criminal Court “to speedily bring to justice those people most responsible for the near-total denial of human rights, and including those at the highest level of decision-making in that country”.
Former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the late father of the current leader, advocated a military-first, or “songun”, policy by operating the National Defense Commission as the main decision-making body.
But the young leader has shifted his focus to the party since inheriting power in 2011 following the sudden death of his father. “Much has been done in the past ten years but still it was not enough, so no considerable progress can be seen now”, the ambassador said, according to the report. Kim Jong Illinois died at the end of 2011.
Experts said that the move could herald the full-fledged start of Kim’s era amid prospects that the North’s leader is likely to unveil his new polices or conduct a major reshuffle, based on his consolidated power. Kim may announce economic reforms or new diplomatic relations.
North Korea held a large-scale military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, earlier this month to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling party’s formation.
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North Korea conducted three nuclear tests at the Punggye-ri site in North Hamgyong Province in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
