Kim Jong Un admitted on Wednesday that his five-year economic plan failed “tremendously” on almost every front, state media reported.
The North Korean leader made the remarks at a rare Labor Party meeting a few days ago, which was last held in 2016 when he first outlined the plan.
“The strategy was supposed to be defeated last year, but it greatly achieved the goals of almost every sector,” Kim said in opening statements to Congress, according to KCNA.
He was accompanied by his top aides, including his sister and senior party official Kim Yo Jong, nominal head of state Choe Ryong Hae and Prime Minister Kim Tok Hun.
At the last meeting, Kim called for boosting North Korea’s economic growth and expanding national energy sources, including nuclear power. He also stressed the “byungjin” policy of parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy.
This year’s meeting is expected to last a few days and Kim is expected to announce leadership changes, potentially involving her sister, who was rumored to control questions about Kim’s health over the summer.
It is also expected to unveil another five-year plan and address north-south links and foreign policy. The convention was attended by 4,750 delegates and 2,000 spectators and was held two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden took office.
KCNA said it will include “strategic and tactical policies” to promote peninsula reunification and foreign relations.
Despite his admitted failures, Kim noted the “miraculous victory” achieved in recent years: a reference to the military advances of ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States and its historic meetings with President Trump.
He also thanked party workers for working to create “stable situations against coronavirus from start to finish.”
“They had firmly resolved the difficulties in the face of an unprecedented global health crisis that was unprecedented,” Kim said.
North Korea has not officially confirmed any cases of coronavirus, but has reported to the World Health Organization thousands of “suspicious” infections.
According to photos taken by KCNA, no one was wearing a mask and there was no social distancing between the participants.
The dictator of the Hermit Kingdom has been working to launch his ruthless image to become a “village man” as his country continues to deteriorate, although experts have said they are not committed to the acts.
In October, during the 75th anniversary of the country’s founding, he was seen weeping in thanking North Korea’s “great people” for fighting the COVID-19 crisis.
With mail cables