SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanked the public for their trust and support ‘in difficult times’ and wished them luck and good health in his first New Year’s cards sent to his people .
Kim usually gives a televised speech on January 1, but he is expected to skip it this year because he will address the country’s first ruling party congress in five years somewhere in early January.
“I will work hard to bring the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people come true sooner,” Kim said in his letter, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
“I thank the people for always trusting and supporting our party even in difficult times,” he said. “I wish all families across the country greater happiness and loved ones, good health.”
North Korea is one of the world’s most monastic countries, and it’s virtually impossible to independently confirm whether all of its 25 million people have received Kim’s cards. The cards were reportedly the first a leader has sent to North Koreans since 1995.
Kim, who succeeded his father as North Korean leader at the end of 2011, faces the most difficult challenges of his nine-year rule due to the pandemic, several natural disasters last summer and persistent US-led sanctions amid diplomacy. impasse over its core program.
Kim is likely to use the Labor Party Congress as a place to create a stronger unit and set new development goals for the next few years.
North Korea’s pandemic – related border closure with China, its largest trading partner, is hurting the economy. The analyst of bilateral trade in the first 11 months of 2020 has fallen by about 79% from the same period in 2019, said analyst Song Jaeguk at the IBK Economic Research Institute in Seoul.
The congress, the first since 2006, is officially the party’s leading decision – making body, although actual day – to – day decisions are made by Kim and his closest associates. The rubber stamp board of delegates is expected to endorse Kim’s new initiatives without much debate.
State media did not say exactly when the meeting will take place. In 2006, the congress was held for four days.
The new year packed a large crowd into Pyongyang’s main square to watch fireworks, a concert and a flag-raising ceremony. State TV showed people wearing masks and heavy coats, waving and standing close to each other.
North Korea has steadfastly claimed that it is not a coronavirus – an allegation questioned by outsiders. But experts also believe that any outbreak was unlikely to be widespread, which is why North Korea considered it safe to hold large events such as the Pyongyang Party Congress.
North Korea also said on Friday that it had successfully completed an ’80-day struggle ‘, a productivity campaign it regularly launches to force citizens to work extra hours and report larger production numbers ahead of major political events. During the congress, experts say North Korea is likely to underline a stronger independent economy to address the problems in an effort to pressure people to work harder.
KCNA said that “the people are progressing by self-preservation” to achieve a proud victory of the historic 80-day battle. The North Koreans are said to have complied with the newly set quotas at factories, mines, farms, flood recycling works, steps against coronavirus and various other areas.