North Korea to hold rare parliament session; analysts say food shortage will top agenda
Observers are also closely watching whether there will be a political reshuffle
North Korea announced today that it would convene a rare parliamentary session next month, which analysts said would likely rubber-stamp policies outlined by leader Kim Jong-un in a bid to resolve chronic food shortages in the country.
“The 3rd session of the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK [North Korea] will be convened in Pyongyang on April 9,” state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
It gave no other details, including on the session’s agenda.
The Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) meets only once or twice a year, mostly for day-long sessions to rubber-stamp budgets or other decisions made by the ruling communist party.
In a closely-watched New Year speech, leader Kim Jong-un called for renovations in agriculture, fisheries and livestock industries aimed at improving people’s living standards and resolving the country’s chronic food shortages.
He also urged managerial reform in state-run businesses to allow them to operate on their own initiative and with greater spontaneity.