The Korea Herald

지나쌤

NK holds first meeting of economic officials in 10 years

By 임정요

Published : Sept. 6, 2016 - 11:00

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North Korea held a meeting of officials in charge of the economy and policy planning to better carry out its leader's five-year development vision, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday.

On Monday, North Korea held a national meeting of senior officials in Pyongyang to encourage them to implement economic policy lines set forth by the congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea held in May, according to the Korean Central News Agency. 

(Yonhap) (Yonhap)
It marked the first time since 2006 that such a gathering was held in North Korea. It was also the first meeting under the regime of incumbent leader Kim Jong-un.

At the meeting, North Korean premier Pak Pong-ju stressed the need for all economic and planning officials to "materialize" the idea of the North's leader "without fail," according to the KCNA.

At a rare congress by the WPK, the North's leader laid out a five-year strategy for economic growth, stressing the need to improve the people's livelihoods and tackle electric power shortages.

At the party event, the North's leader made it clear that he will "permanently" defend the pursuit of his signature policy of developing nuclear weapons in tandem with boosting the country's moribund economy, commonly known as the "byeongjin" policy. (Yonhap)