North Korea Concludes Year-End Meeting with Focus on U.S. Strategy and Foreign Relations
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened a key policy-setting meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party last week, state media KCNA reported on Sunday.
The meeting, held from December 23 to 27, outlined a "strongest" response strategy toward the United States to safeguard the country's safety and national interests. Specific details of the strategy were not disclosed.
The KCNA report criticized the growing trilateral alliance between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, labeling it a "nuclear military bloc" and describing South Korea as an "anti-communism outpost" for Washington. The report underscored that the current geopolitical reality dictated the nation's future direction and actions.
The session also reviewed domestic issues, including the government’s response to this year’s floods, which included relocating affected individuals to Pyongyang. In addition, North Korea pledged to strengthen relations with "friendly" countries.
This 11th plenary session concluded a year marked by increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. A summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the year resulted in a mutual defense agreement, which has drawn criticism from Washington and Seoul. The U.S. and South Korea have confirmed that North Korea has dispatched troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, with reports indicating they have suffered significant losses. Just last week, North Korea reportedly lost 1,000 troops in the Kursk region while attempting to push Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory following their "incursion."
The Workers’ Party plenary sessions, often held at year-end, are traditionally used to announce significant policy initiatives. While Kim Jong Un has previously delivered New Year’s Day speeches, it remains unclear if he will continue this practice for 2025.
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