Kim Jong Un admitted on Wednesday that his five-year economic plan had failed “tremendously” on almost every front, state media reported.
The North Korean leader made the comments during a rare gathering of a workers’ party held for days, which was last presented in 2016 when he first outlined the plan.
“The strategy would have been available last year, but it fell far short of the targets in almost every sector,” Kim said in the opening speech to Congress, according to KCNA.
He was accompanied by his top assistants, 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 insisted on promoting North Korea’s economic growth and expanding domestic energy sources, including nuclear power. He also stressed the “byungjin” policy of parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy.
The annual meeting is expected to last a few days and Kim is expected to announce leadership changes, possibly involving his sister – who was rumored to be in charge while questions surfaced over Kim’s health during the summer.
He is also expected to launch another five-year plan and address the links between North and South policy and foreign policy. The congress was attended by 4,750 delegates and 2,000 spectators and took place two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden took office.
KCNA said it would include ‘strategic and tactical policies’ to promote peninsula reunification and foreign relations.
Despite his permissible failures, Kim took note of the ‘miraculous victory’ achieved in recent years – a reference to military progress of ballistic missiles that could reach the US and his historic meetings with President Trump.
He also thanked party workers for the work of creating ‘stable situations against the coronavirus from start to finish’.
“They have overcome the problems of an unprecedented prolonged, global health crisis unparalleled,” Kim said.
North Korea has not yet officially confirmed any cases of coronavirus, but has reported thousands of “suspected” infections to the World Health Organization.
No one was wearing a mask and according to the photos taken by KCNA, there was no social distance between the participants.
The dictator of the Hermit Kingdom worked to cast his ruthless image to become more of a ‘man of the people’ as his country continued to deteriorate, although experts said they did not want to buy the deed.
In October, during the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country, he is seen crying as he thanks the ‘great people’ of North Korea for fighting the COVID-19 crisis.
With Post Wires