"Far Behind Economic Goals in All Areas" Kim Jong-un Acknowledges Failure

[경향신문]

Without a Mask, 7,000 People Sit Close Together: On January 6, the Rodong Sinmun reported that the eight Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea opened in Pyongyang on January 5. According to the North Korean state newspaper, 7,000 people took part in the congress this day, including the members of the party’s 7th central leading bodies, representatives selected from each level of organization, and the audience. The participants did not wear masks and did not keep their distance. Rodong Sinmun, News 1

On January 5, the eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the highest decision-making body of North Korea, opened in Pyongyang. In his opening address, Chairman Kim Jong-un admitted that he had failed greatly in achieving his economic goals. The North Korean leader is expected to reveal the outline of the country’s domestic and foreign policies including the policy on South Korea, to overcome challenges, such as the sanctions on North Korea, COVID-19, and the deadlock in negotiations with the United States in the party congress.

On January 6, North Korean media outlets, such as the Rodong Sinmun and the Korea Central News Agency, reported that Chairman Kim gave an opening address at the party congress held at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang the previous day, and conveyed his words, “The time set for the implementation of the five-year strategy for national economic development ended at the end of last year, but we have fallen far behind our goals in almost all areas.” Chairman Kim said, “We must find the cause of our faults not in the objective, but in the subjective,” and added, “We must boldly acknowledge these faults, which will become bigger obstacles if we ignore them, and establish strict measures not to repeat such mistakes.” The North Korean leader is expected to present self-recovery measures for the economy based on independent efforts for development through the five-year economic development plan, scheduled to be announced at the eighth party congress. However, the chairman did not mention policies on the South or the U.S., as well as any achievements in the development of strategic weapons, such as nuclear weapons.

In a report on settlements at the party’s Central Committee, Chairman Kim said, “We will discuss important issues concerning the main direction and strategic and tactical guidelines in our struggle for ground-breaking progress in the establishment of socialism, issues concerning progress in the unification of our country and in foreign relations, and issues concerning our efforts to strengthen and develop our party’s projects.” This seems to suggest that he will share a message on the U.S., such as the negotiations between the two countries, and release his ideas on inter-Korean relations, including measures for unification, with the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration in the U.S. approaching.

The eighth party congress, which was held five years after the last congress in May 2016, will determine many issues including the restructuring of the party along with personnel decisions and amendments to the party’s regulations. Despite COVID-19, 7,000 people, more than in the previous seventh congress (5,054) were present at the latest meeting. A large number of economic and administrative officials were appointed to the executive branch of the party congress, which replaced 74% of its members in five years, and Kim Yo-jong, the party’s first deputy director and also the younger sister of Chairman Kim known as the “second in command” was also included.