{"id":47485,"date":"2021-01-18T11:56:07","date_gmt":"2021-01-18T02:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/?p=47485"},"modified":"2021-01-18T11:58:10","modified_gmt":"2021-01-18T02:58:10","slug":"key-takeaways-from-north-koreas-military-parade-and-party-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/key-takeaways-from-north-koreas-military-parade-and-party-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Key takeaways from North Korea\u2019s military parade and party congress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Korea\u2019s Eighth Workers\u2019 Party Congress has finally come to an end after a massive military parade that was held on Thursday night. But analysis of the new policy directions set forth over the past week are only just beginning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the Party Congress \u2014 the first one since 2016 \u2014 Kim Jong Un announced a wide array of new policies to be implemented over the course of the next five years. Despite the many difficulties 2020 brought with it, the North Korean leader made it clear that he has no plans of slowing down or scaling back his nuclear weapons programs. With only days left until Joe Biden is inaugurated as president in the US, the recent developments have further increased the stakes of the next US administration\u2019s North Korea policy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following are some of the key takeaways from the Party Congress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cModernization of the nuclear force\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps the most alarming among the recent policy developments is North Korea\u2019s intention to further expand and strengthen its nuclear force. According to a report published by KCNA detailing the policy decisions made at the Congress, the country aims to attain \u201cthe goal of modernization of the nuclear force.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, the report also mentioned plans to further develop \u201cultra-modern tactical nuclear weapons including new-type tactical rockets and intermediate-range cruise missiles whose conventional warheads are the most powerful in the world\u201d and \u201cto complete the development of a super-large hydrogen bomb.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, KCNA reported the country\u2019s goal to \u201cpossess a \u201cnuclear-powered submarine and an underwater-launch nuclear strategic weapon which will be of great importance in raising the long-range nuclear striking capability.\u201d North Korean media also stated that \u201cthe design of new nuclear-powered submarine was researched and was in the stage of final examination.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These statements make it clear that, despite U.S. and South Korean diplomatic efforts over the past few years, North Korea\u2019s nuclear arsenal is likely to continue to grow for the time being.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>New five-year economic plan\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The year 2020 was one of North Korea\u2019s most difficult years yet, given the economic damage caused by the global pandemic. North Korea closed its borders with China in late January 2020, which severely <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/assessing-impact-north-korea-border-blockade\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">impacted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the availability of goods in domestic markets and the much-needed inflow of foreign currency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the key policy directions set forth at the Congress was a new five-year economic plan. Kim Jong Un admitted that the previous plan had failed to achieve its desired results due to \u201cprotracted severe external and internal situations and in the face of unexpected challenges.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He made sure to blame the economic situation on outside forces, stating \u201cthe most barbarous sanctions and blockade by the US and other hostile forces as the first objective factor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kim said the next steps would be to invest and further develop the metal and chemical industries as well as the machine and mining industries. The North Korean leader also stated that \u201cnew plan reflects the demands for perfecting the self-supporting structure of the national economy, lowering the proportion of dependence on imports and stabilizing the people\u2019s living by taking the actual possibilities into consideration,\u201d according to KCNA reports.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plans to improve the tourism industry were also mentioned, with one KCNA report emphasizing the need to \u201cspruce up tourist attractions\u201d and mentioned plans to develop \u201cthe Mt Kumgang tourist area, the project to build the Kosong port coastal tourist area, the Pirobong mountaineering tourist area and the Haegumgang coastal park area.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_47412\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-47412\" style=\"width: 741px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-47412\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/origin_\ubaa8\ub450\uc9d1\uc911\u2026\ub2f9\ub300\ud68c3\uc77c\ucc28\ud68c\uc758\ucc38\uac00\ud55c\ubd81\ud55c\ub300\ud45c\uc790\ub4e4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"741\" height=\"494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/origin_\ubaa8\ub450\uc9d1\uc911\u2026\ub2f9\ub300\ud68c3\uc77c\ucc28\ud68c\uc758\ucc38\uac00\ud55c\ubd81\ud55c\ub300\ud45c\uc790\ub4e4.jpg 741w, https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/origin_\ubaa8\ub450\uc9d1\uc911\u2026\ub2f9\ub300\ud68c3\uc77c\ucc28\ud68c\uc758\ucc38\uac00\ud55c\ubd81\ud55c\ub300\ud45c\uc790\ub4e4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/origin_\ubaa8\ub450\uc9d1\uc911\u2026\ub2f9\ub300\ud68c3\uc77c\ucc28\ud68c\uc758\ucc38\uac00\ud55c\ubd81\ud55c\ub300\ud45c\uc790\ub4e4-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/origin_\ubaa8\ub450\uc9d1\uc911\u2026\ub2f9\ub300\ud68c3\uc77c\ucc28\ud68c\uc758\ucc38\uac00\ud55c\ubd81\ud55c\ub300\ud45c\uc790\ub4e4-630x420.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 741px) 100vw, 741px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-47412\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rodong Sinmun reported on Jan. 8 that the third meeting of the Eighth Party Congress had commenced on Jan. 7. \/ Image: Rodong Sinmun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerning food insecurity, Kim reaffirmed the Party\u2019s determination \u201cin solving the people\u2019s food, clothing and housing problems at any cost.\u201d Such comments paired with Kim admitting the failure of his previously set five-year economic plan serve to highlight how dire the domestic economic situation must actually be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, KCNA reported plans to \u201cput efforts into seed production, scientific farming, increased output in low-yielding fields, cultivation of new land and tideland reclamation\u201d and \u201cpushing irrigation and mechanization of agriculture as an important strategic priority.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Disinterest towards the South\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Kim Jong Un made a point of expressing gratitude with his close allies, China and Russia, the ton<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">directed towards Seoul, however, w<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as much less warm. According to Kim Jong Un, \u201ccurrent inter-Korean relations have been brought back to the time before the publication of the Panmunjom Declaration and the hope for national reunification has become more distant,\u201d KCNA reported.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kim also called South Korea out for what he sees as a hypocritical policy against the North. \u201cThe south Korean authorities are now giving an impression that they are concerned about the improvement of north-south relations by raising such inessential issues as cooperation in epidemic prevention and humanitarian field and individual tourism,\u201d he said. He added that \u201cHostile military acts and anti-DPRK smear campaign are still going on in south Korea, aggravating the situation of the Korean peninsula and dimming the future of the inter-Korean relations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regarding a way forward, the North Korean leader said it will depend on South Korea\u2019s attitude. \u201cIf the south Korean authorities continue to label our action \u201cprovocation\u201d with a double-dealing and biased mindset, we have no other option but to deal with them in a different way,\u201d KCNA reported. It is unclear what a \u201cdifferent way\u201d would look like, but it doesn\u2019t sound too good.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Rapidly deteriorating US-DPRK relations\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pyongyang\u2019s comments directed at Washington were not much kinder. Not only is Kim Jong Un provoking a response by the incoming Biden administration by detailing its plans for nuclear expansion, but he also made some direct comments aimed at the U.S.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kim shared his low expectations for the Biden administration by saying: \u201cWhoever takes power in the US, its entity and the real intention of its policy toward the DPRK would never change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_47462\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-47462\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-47462\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/\uae40\uc5ec\uc815-\uc9d1\ud589\ubd80.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/\uae40\uc5ec\uc815-\uc9d1\ud589\ubd80.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/\uae40\uc5ec\uc815-\uc9d1\ud589\ubd80-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/\uae40\uc5ec\uc815-\uc9d1\ud589\ubd80-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/\uae40\uc5ec\uc815-\uc9d1\ud589\ubd80-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/\uae40\uc5ec\uc815-\uc9d1\ud589\ubd80-630x420.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-47462\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kim Yo Jong at the Eighth Party Congress \/ Image: Yonhap<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also added that \u201cthe key to establishing new DPRK-US relationship lies in the US withdrawal of its hostile policy toward the DPRK, the report solemnly clarified the WPK\u2019s stand that it would approach the US on the principle of power for power and goodwill for goodwill in the future, too,\u201d as reported by KCNA.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Military parade<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Korea didn\u2019t stop at words to show the U.S. and the world its statements merit close attention. On Thursday night, North Korea held a massive military parade displaying an array of new weapons. Pyongyang is thus not only speaking of or threatening expanding its weapons programs but actually showing the world physical proof of its actions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most significant weapon displayed at the parade was a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which the North Korean leader had spoken about at the Congress. North Korean media dubbed the new missile \u201cthe world\u2019s strongest weapon,\u201d showcasing it alongside other short-range ballistic missiles, rockets, tanks, and other weapons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notably, no ICBM was unveiled at the parade, unlike three months ago during the military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Workers\u2019 Party, where an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/north-korea-new-icbm-cannot-hit-two-more-targets-same-time\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ICBM<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> believed to be the largest in the world was displayed. The lack of an ICBM at this parade may signal North Korea\u2019s caution in not overly upsetting the U.S. and possibly putting Biden off from engaging with them altogether.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, through the Congress and the parade, North Korea has further upped the stakes for Biden. Although he will be entering office facing many domestic challenges as well as the ongoing pandemic, the consequences of Biden ignoring North Korea too long may be very costly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kim Jong Un has made his move. Now it\u2019s time for Biden to make his.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i>Views expressed in Guest Columns do not necessarily reflect those of Daily NK.<\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"td-post-header\"><em>Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.<\/em><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Korea\u2019s Eighth Workers\u2019 Party Congress has finally come to an end after a massive military parade that was held on Thursday night. But analysis of the new policy directions set forth over the past week are only just beginning.\u00a0 At the Party Congress \u2014 the first one since 2016 \u2014 Kim Jong Un announced [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":47412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wikipediapreview_detectlinks":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[644],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-analysis-and-opinion"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Key takeaways from North Korea\u2019s military parade and party congress - North Korea News \u2014 Daily NK | Latest DPRK Updates 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/key-takeaways-from-north-koreas-military-parade-and-party-congress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Key takeaways from North Korea\u2019s military parade and party congress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"North Korea\u2019s Eighth Workers\u2019 Party Congress has finally come to an end after a massive military parade that was held on Thursday night. 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