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| ▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on July 2, 2024, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un speaking at a four-day plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on July 2, 2024, shows the North holding a plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) N Korea-party meeting
(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim says economic situations markedly on upturn at key party meeting
(ATTN: UPDATES with assessment by Seoul's unification ministry in paras 15-16)
By Kim Soo-yeon
SEOUL, July 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has voiced his satisfaction about economic performances in the first half at a key party meeting, saying that economic situations are markedly on an upturn, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday.
But Kim did not issue any message targeting South Korea or the United States, nor did he reveal details about the country's push to advance its weapons arsenal Monday, the fourth and final day of a plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The party meeting garnered more keen attention from South Korea and other regional powers as it followed summit talks between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang on June 19.
The two leaders' signing of a new treaty on stronger military cooperation spawned speculation the North may unveil follow-up measures to implement the deal at the party gathering.
North Korea discussed five agenda items at the latest party meeting, including the interim review of the implementation of state policies for this year and the issue of enforcing work discipline in key sectors, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"In the first half of this year, it could be sensed that the country's economic situations are markedly on an upturn, compared with a year earlier," Kim was quoted as saying by the report.
"It can be said that the farming situation throughout the country up to now is also fairly good," he noted.
The North's crop production is estimated to have increased 310,000 tons on-year to 4.82 million tons last year, according to South Korea's Rural Development Administration.
Still, it was below 5.76 million tons, the annual amount that the North needs to feed its people, according to a projection by the Food and Agriculture Organization for the North.
Kim also said the country will witness the completion of new modern production bases in 20 cities and counties by the end of this year, in reference to North Korea's project to build modernized factories in 20 counties over the next decade to improve people's livelihoods.
Touching on the military, the KCNA said Kim clarified the direction of military and political activities by North Korea's all armed forces, without disclosing further details.
The North's leader called for the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) to revise the country's constitution to enhance the prestige of the state, indicating that the North's rubber-stamp parliament is expected to soon hold a key session.
Kim earlier called for revising the constitution at the next SPA meeting to define South Korea as the North's "primary foe" and clarify its territorial boundaries, including the maritime border.
At a year-end party meeting in December, Kim defined inter-Korean relations as those "between two states hostile to each other" and said there is no point in seeking unification with South Korea. During the latest plenary meeting, he did not issue any further messages showing his animosity toward the South.
The unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said North Korea rarely issued a message to South Korea or the U.S. at a June party plenary meeting in the past.
"In light of the current fluid security situation, we will continue to closely monitor why North Korea made no comments on the South and the U.S., and the possibility that it has kept them undisclosed," a ministry official said.
Meanwhile, North Korea carried out a reshuffle of party officials at the party meeting.
The North said it appointed Kim Jong-sun as a department director of the WPK's Central Committee, in what would be a rare move to name a woman in the post of a party department director.
(END)
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