Kim Jong-un vows to strengthen North Korea’s military capabilities
- Pyongyang will look to use its rare party congress to send a message to US President-elect Joe Biden, analysts say
- Kim pledged in his work report to place state defence capabilities on a ‘much higher level’, state media reported
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03:05
North Korea: Kim Jong-un admits failures in economic plan as he kicks off party congress
KCNA did not refer to nuclear weapons in its report or give specific details of Kim’s goals.
But at a military parade in October, Pyongyang showed off a huge new missile that analysts concurred was the largest road-mobile, liquid-fuelled missile anywhere in the world, and was highly likely to be designed to carry multiple warheads in independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs).
North Korea says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against a possible US invasion, and for decades has poured vast amounts of resources into developing them, at the cost of diplomatic isolation and multiple international sanctions.
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Its progress accelerated rapidly under Kim, including by far its most powerful nuclear test and missiles capable of reaching the whole of the US.
Analysts said October’s ICBM was proof that the North had continued to develop its arsenal throughout the diplomatic process, and gave Pyongyang greater heft to demand a return to the negotiating table.
The five-yearly congress is the top meeting of the North’s ruling party, a grand political set-piece that reinforces the regime’s authority and is closely followed by analysts for signs of policy shifts.
Reports citing satellite imagery say there are indications Pyongyang is planning a parade “with military elements” to mark the gathering.
02:49
North Korea’s new ‘monster’ intercontinental ballistic missiles on show at military parade
On its first day Kim admitted that “almost all sectors” had fallen short of their economic targets and said the congress would comprehensively analyse “the experiences, lessons and mistakes we have made during the period under review”.
The coronavirus pandemic has added to the pressures on the North, which closed its borders last January to protect itself against the disease that first emerged in neighbour and key ally China.
As a result it has blockaded itself far more effectively than even the most hawkish backer of sanctions could ever hope to achieve.
Pyongyang insists that it has not had a single coronavirus case – observers doubt the claim but trade with China is at a tiny fraction of the usual level.
