NK to hold party congress

By Bai Yunyi, Zhou Zhiran in Pyongyang and Shan Jie in Beijing Source:Global Times Published: 2016-5-6 0:43:01

World awaits signs of policy shift toward better livelihoods


A North Korean traffic policewoman directs vehicles at a street junction on Thursday in Pyongyang. Behind her the sidewalk is decorated with flags of the ruling party as its members gathered in Pyongyang ahead of their biggest political conference in decades. Photo: AP



Despite being put under a new round of sanctions over its nuclear weapons programs, North Korea is set to hold its seventh party congress on Friday, the first high-level political gathering in 36 years.

The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) congress is seen as a sign that the country's young leader Kim Jong-un has fully consolidated power, but analysts are closely watching and debating whether Kim will advance new policies to improve people's livelihoods. 

South Korea's Ministry of Unification predicted that on the opening day of the congress, the WPK's central committee would deliver work reports, and on the second day, the central inspection commission of the WPK would report on its work and hold discussions over whether to amend the WPK's charter, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday.

Elections of the members of the central committee and the central inspection commission of the WPK would be held on the third day, with the closing ceremony on Monday. 

"Kim may want to replace old cadres with younger ones who are able to better execute his orders," said Zheng Jiyong, director of the Center for Korean Studies at Fudan University, adding that it is possible that Kim might want to adjust the balance of power between North Korean military and the party.

His opinion was echoed by Cui Zhiying, director of the Korean Peninsula Research Center at Tongji University, who said Kim may emphasize both military buildup and party building at the congress to help stabilize the country in face of growing pressure from the US.

The world is closely watching Pyongyang to see if there would be measures to improve North Korean people's livelihoods, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

He noted that another key focus is whether the Byungjin Line - the policy of pursuing the parallel goals of economic development and a nuclear weapons program - would be written in the WPK charter, as it is already enshrined in the constitution.

An editorial in Forbes on Tuesday said that the congress might be an opportunity for North Korea "to be Asia's next economic dragon," with the probable economic reform "inspired by fellow communist states China and Vietnam decades ago."

Unlike the 1980 congress, which saw 177 delegates from 118 countries invited, this time Pyongyang did not invite any delegates from foreign countries, including China.

"North Korea wants to maintain its independent stance under an international sanctions regime. Meanwhile, it can't decide who to invite because it involves the interests of many sides," Zheng said.

Slogans, flags and rehearsals

In the main avenues of Pyongyang, a Global Times reporter saw colorful flags and slogans decorating the streets. Some of the slogans read "The meeting of victors," "Ironclad party" and "Long lives the seventh congress of the WPK."

A massive traffic control operation started Wednesday in the area surrounding the central Kim Il-sung Square for a rehearsal of a celebratory event, which will involve tens of thousands of people.

A 24-hour news center has been set up at Yanggakdo International Hotel where foreign reporters reside.

Yonhap reported Thursday that the North Korean government had ordered all WPK members and workers in the country to watch the opening ceremony of the WPK's seventh congress to be broadcast by Korean Central Television at certain locations at 8 am on Friday.

Rodong Sinmun, a newspaper affiliated with the WPK, reported Tuesday that the delegations had arrived in Pyongyang on Monday. Welcome slogans were hung in the railway station, and a women's orchestra was playing music as some WPK and military officials welcomed them.

According to the Rodong Sinmun, preparatory committees to congratulate the WPK on its seventh congress have formed in several countries, and political and cultural events such as celebratory gatherings and film appreciation meetings will be held.

North Koreans have been engaged in a 70-day campaign of intense work in the run-up to the congress, which has included a tidying up of the capital to welcome delegates, Reuters reported Thursday.



Posted in: Asia-Pacific

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