North Korean leader Kim Jong Un puts the economy front and centre of an agenda-setting speech at the end of a key ruling party meeting, with no mention of the United States
North Korean leader says Pyongyang's main goals will be jump starting economic development and improving people's lives as it faces a"great life-and-death struggle".North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has put the economy front and centre of an agenda-setting speech at the end of a key ruling party meeting.
The impoverished, nuclear-armed nation has been under a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade that has resulted in the country’s biggest economic contraction in over two decades in 2020, according to the South Korean central bank. Kim, who took power just over a decade ago after the death of his father Kim Jong Il, said battling the pandemic was one of the main goals for the coming year.In his speech, Kim did not mention the United States or directly address foreign policy issues.
"Overall, Kim might be aware that revealing sophisticated military development plans while people are suffering food shortages and harsh conditions outside of Pyongyang might not be such a good idea this year," tweeted Chad O'Carroll of specialist website NK News.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Spotlights Himself as He Marks a Decade in PowerAfter a decade in power, Kim Jong Un has made himself clearly the star of the show in North Korea, moving beyond the legitimating familial shadow of his father and grandfather and seeking to justify his hold on power on his own terms
Read more »
Kim Jong Un focuses year-end speech on 'food problem' in North KoreaNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has again admitted there is a 'food problem' in the country, during a speech which brought an important five-day meeting of his Korean Worker's Party to a close.
Read more »
Kim Jong Un Largely Ignores U.S., South Korea in Year-End Speech, Vows Weapons DevelopmentNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un makes no reference to the U.S. and mentions inter-Korean relations just once in a year-end party speech
Read more »
North Korea's Kim talks food not nukes for 2022North Korean leader Kim Jong Un capped off his 10th year in power with a speech that made more mention of tractor factories and school uniforms than nuclear weapons or the United States, according to summaries by state media on Saturday.
Read more »
'We Heard A Big Boom' Explosion Destroys North Arlington TownhomeAn explosion has destroyed a two-story townhome under construction in far North Arlington.
Read more »