North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s mission to turn his nation into a full-fledged nuclear state is likely to receive a huge boost this weekend during its biggest political event in 36 years.
The 7th Congress of Workers’ Party began Friday in Pyongyang, the nation’s capital and biggest city. Kim said the event will “lay out the brilliant blueprint that will advance the final victory of our revolution,” according to the state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun.
A more grandiose title for the supreme leader and an impending shakeup of party leadership are expected. That would leave Kim fewer internal obstacles on his quest to keep North Korea on a path of aggressively developing nuclear weapons and attempting to improve its struggling economy.
About 3,000 party members and more than 100 international media outlets have poured in for this once-in-a-generation political gathering, officials told CNN.
Thirteen hours after the opening of North Korea’s first Worker’s Party Congress since 1980, state television broke into regular programming with a special report unveiling key objectives of the historic gathering of the reclusive nation’s ruling elite.
It’s unclear how many days the congress will last. But he agenda has been mapped out:
• Electing the supreme leader to an even more powerful position than the one he holds (his power is already nearly absolute);
• Electing new party leadership to replace members of Kim’s inner circle purged for disloyalty and branded “evil” by the state, and;
• Revealing the findings of the party’s disciplinary and investigative committee.
North Korean elections are always unanimous, and political dissent and disloyalty are not tolerated. The 2013 execution of Kim’s uncle Jang Sung Tae illustrates this reality.
Kim’s new handpicked inner circle will clear the path for the young leader to continue provocative military activities that have triggered some of the harshest U.N. sanctions imposed against North Korea and irritated his most powerful ally, China.
The sole remaining symbol of cooperation with South Korea — the Kaesong Industrial Complex near the demilitarized zone — has also shut down during his tenure.
No Chinese officials were invited to the party congress, according to Chinese state media.
Kim appears determined to project the image of a self-reliance as his impoverished country defies international condemnation by chasing its nuclear ambitions. At the same time, Kim has promised to take measures to improve the living standards of North Koreans. To outside observers, the two goals seem contradictory and implausible.
Details of the gathering had been kept secret from foreign press and the North Korean public until a surprise 10 p.m. Friday news bulletin on Pyongyang-based KCTV, the official television mouthpiece of the government.
The broadcast showed 3,400 members of the Workers Party of Korea assembling Friday in Pyongyang for the historic event.
The crowd burst into applause as Kim entered the room flanked by the two most senior party members — representing both the old and new schools of leadership.
Kim Yong Nam is the official head of state, second only to Kim Jong Un, and has represented North Korea abroad and received foreign dignitaries since 1978. He has served all three North Korean leaders.
Hwang Pyong So is the second-highest military official in North Korea, appointed by Kim Jong Un in 2013.
In a 15-minute introductory speech, Kim honored the nation’s top figures who have died since the last party congress was held.
He thanked his people for their “70-day battle of loyalty,” a state-mandated work campaign that had North Koreans arriving at work by 5:30 a.m. daily and working late leading up to Friday’s congress.
Kim ordered what was claimed to be a hydrogen bomb test on the same week of his birthday in January. It was followed a month later by a satellite launch, which led the United States and its allies to push for a new round of strong sanctions aimed at halting the regime’s nuclear and missile programs.
Those sanctions have made it difficult to improve the North Korean economy, another major issue facing Kim.
“The goal of this congress is really to consolidate Kim’s hold on power,” said Mike Chinoy, author of “Meltdown: The Inside Story of the North Korean Nuclear Crisis.”
“During the rule of Kim Jong Il the focus was very much on ‘military first,’ the armed forces had even more influence than before. Kim Jong Un has been shifting power back to the ruling Korean Workers’ Party.”
Doing so, along with nuclear tests, may enable Kim to reduce the amount resources spent maintaining a traditional army, Chinoy said.
At least one citizen told CNN he doesn’t fear the added sanctions.
“We’ve been under heavy sanctions since the end of the Korean War,” he said. “We’re not afraid of stronger sanctions because we’re used to them and we’ve survived.”
Last congress in 1980
Kim’s birth date is unknown, but he’s thought to be in his early 30s, meaning he wasn’t even alive when the last congress was held.
At that time, his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founder and President, elevated his son Kim Jong Il to No. 2 in the party, solidifying his position as successor. Kim Jong II took power in 1994 when his father died and never held a congress.
He died in December 2011, and his son took command of the military.
“We all say the Koreans are so fortunate to have such great leaders, starting from the late president right up to the marshal, Kim Jong Un,” a female passer-by told CNN.