김정은, 당 정치국회의 주재…연말까지 '80일전투' 결정
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly presided over a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party to discuss major political issues facing his regime
He wants the party to work their tails off for the rest of the year as the North faces the triple threat of crushing sanctions, typhoon damage and the specter of COVID-19.
Kim Dami reports.
Chairing a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un launched what he dubbed an "80-day campaign" until the year's end.
The campaign aims to fully prepare for the 8th Congress of the ruling party scheduled for early next year.
The North's state-run news agency said Tuesday that the remaining days until the 8th Congress of the Party is a period of year-end struggle.
It also highlighted that it's the last phase of carrying out the five-year strategy for national economic development put forth at the party's 7th Congress.
It further noted the decision was made to glorify the 75th founding anniversary of the Party this Saturday as a great festival of victory and progress.
The ambitious campaign comes as Pyeongyang struggles to accomplish its five-year economic development plan due to international sanctions, the COVID-19 pandemic and heavy downpours this summer.
The plan was adopted when the regime held a party congress in May 2016.
But in August of this year, Kim acknowledged that the plan had failed to achieve its intended goals and he pledged to come up with a new one at a rare party congress set for January 2021.
During the politburo meeting, Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the party's Central Committee and Pak Jong-chon, chief of the General Staff of the North's army were also officially promoted to head the North's military.
Known for his deep involvement in the regime's nuclear and missile development, Ri has been actively demonstrating a willingness to strengthen the regime's defensive power ahead of this weekend's anniversary.
He has also shown leadership in typhoon recovery projects.
After visiting a flood-hit border village with her brother Kim Jong-un last week, Kim Yo-jong was also present at the meeting.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.
