North Korea convened an end-of-year plenary meeting to evaluate its internal achievements for the current year and prepare for the upcoming 9th Workers’ Party Congress, slated for early next year.
The party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on its front page on Wednesday that the expanded meeting of the 13th plenary session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party was held the previous day, chaired by General Secretary Kim Jong Un.
According to the newspaper, the plenary meeting approved discussions on five agenda items, including a comprehensive review of the implementation of party and state policies for 2025, an assessment of the Central Inspection Committee’s work, and key issues related to preparations for the 9th Party Congress. The meeting, which began the previous day, is expected to continue for three to four days.
The second page of the newspaper emphasized the importance of studying the party’s revolutionary ideology. It reported that workers and employees at the Dancheon Smelter must study Kim’s revolutionary thoughts and classical works to accurately grasp the leader’s ideas and intentions, as well as the party’s policies and directives.
The third page featured an article titled, Daily Reports of Completion News. The newspaper reported that the modernization project of the Kanggye Construction Materials Factory was completed the previous day, coinciding with the inauguration of a potato flour production facility in Jangjin County, South Hamgyong Province, and an ostrich production base in Jagang Province.
The fourth page included an article titled, The Spirit of Gangwon Province, which detailed how the people of Gangwon Province constructed six power plants in the past. The newspaper stated that in the great era of Kim, the people of Gangwon Province have emerged as exemplars of the Korean people, pulsating with indomitable spirit and vigor.
The fifth page announced the opening of the Provincial Construction Materials Exhibition 2025, which commenced the previous day at the Science and Technology Hall. According to the newspaper, the exhibition showcased over 27,000 items across 200 categories, including construction materials produced from local raw materials and resources, product manufacturing process models, and various tools.
The sixth page criticized the European Union (EU) for freezing the assets of the Russian Central Bank in Europe, describing it as banditry in response to the Ukraine crisis. The newspaper further stated that having profited from this act of banditry, the EU is now attempting to seize Russian assets entirely. It added that experts warn that if this confiscation plan moves into the execution phase, the situation could deteriorate significantly.