Ministry of Unification, "Focus on North Korean Workers' Party Plenary Meeting's Foreign Policy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Ministry of Unification stated on the 27th, "We are paying attention to the external policy of dialogue and cooperation expected to be announced at the Party plenary meeting to be held within this week in North Korea."

Lee Jong-joo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at the regular briefing on the same day, "It is expected that the trend of holding the plenary meeting in North Korea will be confirmed within this week."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The spokesperson explained, "The government recognizes that the end of this year and the beginning of next year are important times that will determine whether inter-Korean relations will move toward a phase of peace through the restoration of dialogue and cooperation or whether the deadlock phase will be prolonged," adding, "From this perspective, we are paying attention to the direction of North Korea's domestic and foreign policies for next year to be announced at this plenary meeting."

He also urged, "Since the government has consistently expressed its will for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the development of inter-Korean relations through dialogue and cooperation, we hope that North Korea will take the first step of the new year by opening the door to dialogue with us and the international community and embarking on the path of engagement and cooperation."

Regarding the timing of the report on the holding of North Korea's plenary meeting, he said, "Typically, plenary meetings have been held for a short period of one day to as long as four days with Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, in attendance," and expected that reports related to the meeting would be made within this week.

North Korea previously announced at the Party Political Bureau meeting held on the 1st that it would hold a plenary meeting in late this month to review the implementation status of major policies this year and decide on the business plan for next year.

The specific date of the meeting has not been disclosed, but it is highly likely to be held ahead of the 30th, when General Secretary Kim was appointed as the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army 10 years ago.

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