Choson Sinbo "North Korea Completes Nuclear Forces... Now Focuses on Improving People's Livelihood"

Evaluation of the 8th Labor Party Congress... Focus on the Economy

On the 6th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party opened in Pyongyang on the 5th.

Regarding the opening of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan representing North Korea's position, evaluated on the 6th that North Korea, having completed its nuclear armament, will now focus on economic development.

In an article titled "A Working Congress Opened Amid the People's Expectations, A Fighting Congress," Choson Sinbo stated that this party congress "will be a turning point of revolutionary significance in strengthening the Juche power of Korea (North Korea)."

The newspaper said, "Having completed the country's nuclear forces, Korea has further solidified its status as a strategic state, making it impossible for any invading forces to dare challenge it," adding, "What remains now is to enable the people to enjoy a prosperous and civilized life without further hardship."

It also noted that the new national economic development 5-year plan was "prepared by comprehensively, three-dimensionally, and meticulously analyzing and settling past achievements and shortcomings," and said, "This also reflects the confidence of the Workers' Party, the guiding force of Juche."

Regarding Chairman Kim Jong Un's acknowledgment of economic goal shortfalls in his opening speech, the paper praised it as "an expression of confidence to organize and lead the entire party and state activities to a new stage of advancement in accordance with the demands of revolutionary development and the changed situation."

By identifying the causes of shortcomings internally, it allowed for rapid overcoming of problems and the establishment of practical countermeasures.

It further argued, "To strengthen Juche power in line with the demands of the new era, it is necessary to break away from past inertia and boldly innovate," adding, "Because the party's leadership system is firmly established, the entire party is ideologically and spiritually unified, and the people earnestly demand it, unreasonable phenomena can be eradicated and internal strengthening can be achieved as much as needed."

Meanwhile, the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party, considered North Korea's largest political event, opened on the 5th in Pyongyang.

North Korea's state media, Korean Central News Agency, reported on the 6th that "the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea opened on January 5, 2021, in the revolutionary capital Pyongyang," and that Chairman Kim delivered the opening address and the report summarizing the work of the Party Central Committee.

Chairman Kim expressed grievances over domestic and international difficulties and unusually acknowledged economic failures. He said, "The period for implementing the national economic development 5-year strategy ended last year, but the goals set were tremendously missed in almost all sectors." At the same time, he announced a new economic development plan.

As it was the first day of the opening, no specific business plans or messages toward South Korea or the United States were issued. During the congress, expected to last 2 to 3 more days, Chairman Kim is anticipated to present new foreign policy directions and a new national economic development 5-year plan through reports summarizing each sector's work over the past period. Leadership personnel changes, including reorganization of the Workers' Party and generational shifts to lead the Kim Jong Un regime going forward, are also expected.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.