Pyongyang: North Korea has conducted a significant party meeting to assess the execution of state policies for the first half of the year, as reported by state media on Tuesday, notably without revealing details of a speech by its leader Kim Jong-un, which marks an uncommon occurrence.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 12th plenary session of the eighth Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) took place from Saturday to Monday, as announced by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The meeting aimed to evaluate policy performances during the initial half and deliberate on policy directions for the latter half of the year.
The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech, though state media chose not to disclose its contents. It remains unclear whether Kim directed any statements towards the United States or South Korea in his address. The South Korean unification ministry noted that it is unusual for North Korea to withhold Kim's speech and exclude diplomatic discussions from the meeting's agenda.
The meeting drew attention regarding whether Kim would address Washington and Seoul, especially given the conciliatory gestures from U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung towards North Korea. A ministry official suggested that the lack of disclosure might be because South Korea and the U.S. have not finalized their policy on North Korea, while international security remains fluid due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Iran conflict.
During the party meeting, North Korea did not address the accountability of party officials for the warship accident in May. Kim had previously criticized the incident as due to "absolute carelessness" and "irresponsibility," ordering the ship's restoration before the WPK meeting. The 5,000-ton destroyer had tipped over during a launching ceremony in May in Chongjin and was launched after repairs at the Rajin shipyard.
Additionally, North Korea unanimously approved a plan to hold the ninth party congress, describing it as a crucial "watershed" for the WPK's development. The last congress occurred in January 2021, where the regime showcased advanced weapons that Kim pledged to develop. The unification ministry speculated that the congress might be held at the end of this year or early next year.
The ministry suggested that North Korea is likely focusing on preparations for the WPK's 80th founding anniversary in October and the ninth party congress, while addressing issues related to the warship accident. The ministry also noted personnel changes based on photos from state media, indicating the promotion of Ri Hee-yong and the demotion of Ri Pyong-chol, while Ri Il-whan was absent from the meeting.