North Korea has initiated its year-end plenary meeting to assess national projects and review its five-year plan.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Wednesday that the expanded meeting of the 13th plenary session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party was convened on Tuesday. The report stated that Kim Jong Un presided over the plenary session.
The meeting approved discussions on five agenda items, including an evaluation of the implementation of party and national policies for 2025, the status of the Central Inspection Commission’s work, and key issues related to preparations for the 9th Party Congress, which is expected to take place early next year.
The focus of this meeting is anticipated to be on concluding this year’s party policies and preparing for the upcoming 9th Party Congress. No specific details were provided regarding other agenda items.
The meeting also elected its executive body. Attendees included members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, candidate members, and officials from various party departments. Responsible leaders from provincial and central agencies, city and county party secretaries, and people’s committee chairs were also present as observers.
North Korea had previously announced that the plenary meeting would occur around mid-December. Analysts suggest this new timing represents a departure from the traditional pattern of holding December plenary meetings at year-end, likely in consideration of the upcoming 9th Party Congress. Consequently, the plenary session was convened a day earlier and is expected to continue for at least two days.