North Korea's ongoing party congress discussed five-year plans and goals for key sectors on its sixth day. State media reported study and consultative meetings covering the economy and party work. No mention has been made of foreign policy yet.
North Korea's ninth congress of the Workers' Party, which opened last Thursday, is reviewing policy outcomes from the previous congress and setting goals for the next five years. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that on the sixth day of the gathering, study and consultative meetings in various fields, including the economy and party work, took place the previous day.
These meetings intensified discussions on the orientation and plans for different sectors and units, delving into realistic proposals for achieving gradual and qualitative development. The KCNA stated that the discussions focused on ensuring the scientific accuracy and innovative nature in applying the general goal and principle of the five-year strategy.
The meetings also addressed technical measures for each sector to advance the self-supporting national economy, capital city construction, and regional development policy-oriented construction. The results of the collective discussions have been submitted to the committee for drafting the decision of the Party Congress. Once finalized, the new policy directions are expected to be unveiled in the closing session.
While the congress covers key sectors including national defense and foreign affairs, state media has made no mention of foreign policy as the first such gathering in five years approaches its end. Whether North Korea will issue a message responding to overtures from Washington and Seoul to resume talks remains a point of attention, as the upcoming five-year plan is expected to outline directions on relations with the United States and South Korea.
Seoul's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young assessed that the congress appears to be focusing on developing the economy and improving people's living standards rather than on military or foreign policy issues. During a session of the ministry's advisory panel on inter-Korean unification, he said this phenomenon bears a meaningful implication for the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The minister expressed hope that the two countries will reopen communication channels and resume cooperation to promote peace and mutual growth, adding, "I hope the newly elected North Korean leadership will open a new era of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula."
