North Korea Likely to Hold Workers' Party Plenary Meeting Before Lunar New Year... Will Foreign Policy Outline Emerge?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea will hold a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party in early February.

On the 7th, the Korean Central News Agency reported the decision of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, stating, "The 2nd plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Party will be convened within the early February period."

The decision stated that this plenary meeting is intended to "review and decide the 2021 work plans of each sector to thoroughly implement the strategic tasks presented at the 8th Party Congress."

Since North Korea specified the early period, the plenary meeting is expected to take place by the 10th of this month, before the Lunar New Year holiday. The 1st plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee was held on the 10th of last month during the 6th day of the 8th Party Congress.

The 2nd plenary meeting will carry out follow-up work from the 8th Party Congress held last month. Since the main themes of the 8th Party Congress were national defense and the economy, these topics are expected to be primarily addressed again this time.

However, considering the timing of the announcement of the plenary meeting, there is also a possibility of an announcement regarding foreign policy. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies predicted, "Since the Party Congress was held before the Biden administration took office and this plenary meeting is scheduled after the Biden administration's inauguration and after the telephone conversation between the South Korean and U.S. presidents, there is a possibility that foreign policy will be announced."

The plenary meeting, attended by all members and candidate members of the Party Central Committee, is convened at least once a year to discuss and decide on internal and external party matters.

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