North Korea has convened the Central Committee Headquarters Representatives meeting, officially launching preparations for the 9th Party Congress.
The party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on its third page on January 30 that the meeting took place on January 28 under the guidance of Cho Yong-won, the party secretary.
The newspaper stated that representatives elected from general assemblies and delegate meetings of various Central Committee organizations participated in the meeting. They conducted elections for representatives of the headquarters party organization to attend the 9th Party Congress.
On pages 1 and 2, the newspaper reported that Kim Jong Un, the party’s general secretary, attended the Local Development Policy Construction Groundbreaking Ceremony in Unryul County, South Hwanghae Province, on the previous day, January 29.
At this event, Kim announced plans to simultaneously construct local industrial factories and healthcare facilities in 20 regions across the country, including Unryul County. This is part of the Local Development 20X10 policy, now in its third year.
Page 4 covered a recent reunion between war veterans and graduating students from a high school in Kanggye City. The newspaper reported that mothers of soldiers deployed to Russia also attended the event, emphasizing the heroism of the People’s Army.
Page 5 reported the completion of renovation work at the Gyeongam Cement Factory. The newspaper explained that amid a nationwide Creative Competition for local development, the so-called capacity expansion project to modernize construction equipment and materials at the Gyeongam Cement Factory in North Hwanghae Province has also been completed.
On page 6, an article titled, Condemned U.S. Immigration Policy, appeared. The newspaper indirectly criticized the U.S. by citing a recent statement from a United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, who claimed that the U.S. has engaged in excessive arrests and detentions of immigrants.