Pyongyang, North Korea – Kim Jong-Un held a congress on Friday and mostly talked about the nuclear program in the country. The leader says the program gives dignity and national power to North Korea. This was the seventh party congress since the 1949 founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, being the first one in 36 years.
The congress was held at the House of Culture on April 25, and the speech was released by a state-run television. More than 100 foreign journalists were invited to the congress, but it ended up happening behind closed doors.
Journalists were denied access to the theater, which is why they needed to rely on the state-run Central TV. The state-run television did not release information until late Friday.
Kim talked about the nuclear test North Korea did in January. He added that the test detonated a hydrogen bomb. The leader also talked about the launch in February of a satellite widely seen as a cover for developing an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Comments from the U.S. and South Korea
The United States and South Korea say they doubt North Korea detonated a hydrogen bomb because it yielded an explosion too small to be a thermonuclear bomb.
The two countries, as well as other allies, have been trying to prevent for decades North Korea from gaining nuclear power, ever since it detonated its first atomic device a decade ago. Nevertheless, their intents have failed and new questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the policy toward North Korea.
The congress was relevant because Kim Jong Un held court at his nation’s most important political gathering. The leader will be seeking to make an impact in history by telling the world the policies and ideology of the country, which will define his era of leadership and serve as a blueprint for the country’s future.
North Korea may be preparing for a nuclear test in the near future, a U.S. website that monitors the isolated nation said Friday.
Source: The New York Times