North Korean Workers' Party Political Bureau Decides to Convene Year-End Plenary Meeting
Last Year Declared 'Two States Theory'... Measures to Sever Inter-Korean Relations
North Korea-Russia Close Ties Displayed... New US Policy Expected
North Korea has announced the convening of a plenary meeting at the end of the year. Last year, it introduced the concept of 'two hostile states' for the first time, and throughout this year, measures to sever ties between the North and South have continued accordingly. Attention is focused on whether a stance will emerge to solidify North Korea-Russia relations along with a response strategy to the second term of the 'Trump administration' launching early next year.
According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 3rd, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea decided to convene the 11th plenary meeting of the 8th term in late this month. This meeting will summarize the implementation status of this year's party and state policies and determine the direction of struggle for the coming year. The Political Bureau announced that it will discuss and decide on a 'series of important issues.'
North Korea holds plenary meetings at the end of each year to review the year's work and present the national policy direction for the following year.
Last December, the meeting was held over five days from the 26th to the 30th. At that time, Chairman Kim Jong Un defined inter-Korean relations as a 'hostile two-state relationship' rather than kinship for the first time. Since then, North Korea has continuously taken physical severance measures throughout this year, such as blowing up connecting roads and destroying structures between the North and South.
At this year's plenary meeting, it is expected that evaluations will first be made on the signing of the 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement,' which restored the military alliance with Russia, the strengthening of national defense capabilities including the new intercontinental ballistic missile 'Hwasong-19,' and economic achievements such as the 20×10 local development policy that Chairman Kim has focused on.
The biggest point of interest among the new policies North Korea will present is the change in 'foreign relations.' First, it is highly likely that the honeymoon with Russia, which is closely cooperating through war dispatch, will be further solidified. More concrete development directions are expected to be presented, including military cooperation, transfer of advanced technology, and cultural and tourism exchanges.
Attention is also focused on whether a new policy toward the United States will emerge in line with the launch of the 'Trump 2nd term' in January next year. Although Donald Trump has flaunted his friendship with Chairman Kim Jong Un, North Korea has kept its distance. Chairman Kim drew a line on resuming dialogue on the 21st of last month, saying, "We have already gone as far as we can toward negotiation with the United States."
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