PYONGYANG, May 6. /TASS/. At the 7th congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has noted what he described as the country’s "unprecedented successes". His address was shown on national television.
"Creation of a hydrogen bomb and the launch of a satellite have bolstered national security," Kim said. For this first time he appeared in public wearing a civilian suit instead of the habitual dark military-style jacket.
The congress is being held behind closed doors. No delegations from foreign political parties attend. The large crowd of foreign journalists has not been allowed into the hall where 3,000 delegates have gathered for the congress - the first over the past 36 years.
Mass media workers, invited on the occasion from the United States, Japan, Spain, Finland, France, Japan and a number of other countries have been allowed to interview passers-by, and TV cameramen, to film reports near the impressive April 25 Palace of Culture. The congress’s sessions will resume on Saturday.
The agenda was not disclosed in advance. Experts believe that the delegates are discussing measures to strengthen the country’s defenses and develop the economy in the context of sanctions, taken against Pyongyang over its nuclear missile program. In all likelihood the delegates will reaffirm the importance of Kim’s policy of parallel development of the economy and measures to strengthen the country’s nuclear potential.