North Korea's Kim stresses self-sufficient economy at politburo meeting
08 June, 2020
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a meeting of the politburo of the country's ruling Workers Party, where economical projects including the chemical industry were discussed, state news agency KCNA said on Monday (Jun 8).
The two-day meeting comes at a time of financial uncertainty amid the global COVID-19 pandemic that's putting additional pressure on the North's economy, already battered by international sanctions targeted at stopping its nuclear programme.
The meeting discussed "crucial issues arising in further developing the self-sufficient economy of the country and improving the standard of people's living", KCNA said.
The 13th political bureau meeting repeatedly stressed that the chemical industry is "a significant thrust front of the national economy", it said.
"He stressed the necessity to give top priority to increasing the capability for making fertiliser," KCNA said, citing Kim.
After weeks of extreme speculation about his health, KCNA reported Kim attended the opening of a fertiliser plant on, may 1.
The meeting also emphasised construction of residential houses in an effort to better North Korean's standard of living.
"Pointing out at length the issues which may have to be urgently settled to make sure living conditions of citizens in the town, the Supreme Leader stressed to take strong state measures for ensuring the living conditions of individuals like the construction of dwelling houses," KCNA reported.
Kim has made an unusually small number of outings previously months, along with his absence from a significant holiday prompting speculation about his condition, as Pyongyang has stepped up measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.
While North Korea says it has no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, South Korea's main intelligence agency has said an outbreak there can't be ruled out.
Source:
TAG(s):