Kim Jong-un Holds A Congress, Thousands Of Participants Who Attend Don't Wear Masks

Kim Jong-un (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - Supreme Leader of North Korea (North Korea) Kim Jong-un at the Labor Party Congress said his five-year economic target failed in almost every sector. The news of not wearing it came along with the fact that the thousands of congress participants who attended did not wear masks.

In the images shared by KCNA, you can see no one can be seen wearing masks at the congress which was attended by nearly 5,000 delegates. They also appear not to keep their seats apart.

Quoting Reuters, Wednesday 6 January 2021, North Korea has not officially confirmed any cases of COVID-19, although it has reported thousands of "suspected cases" to the World Health Organization (WHO). But according to South Korean (South Korean) authorities said the outbreak in North Korea could not be ruled out because it had active trade and movement of people with China before closing its borders in January 2020.

During the Congress, Kim Jong-un was accompanied by top aides, including his sister and senior Labor Party official Kim Yo-jong, nominal head of state Choe Ryong-hae and Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun.

The rare political gathering, last held in 2016, has attracted international attention as it is hoped that Kim Jon-un will unveil his next five-year economic plan and discuss inter-Korean relations and foreign policy. The congress, which was attended by 4,750 delegates and 2,000 spectators, was held two weeks before the inauguration of United States President-elect Joe Biden.

Kim Jong-un (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Good news Kim Jong-un

In his opening speech, Kim Jong-un said the country had achieved a "miraculous victory" by strengthening its global power and prestige since the last congress. Kim Jong-un was referring to military advances that culminated in the successful 2017 test of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland and a series of meetings with US President Donald Trump.

But the five-year economic strategy he laid out in 2016 failed to implement, he said, urging North Korea to be more independent. "The strategy matures last year but has fallen short of goals in almost every sector," said Kim Jong-un.

In his 2016 plan, Kim Jong-un called for accelerated economic growth and expansion of domestic energy sources, including nuclear power, to increase electricity supply. He also underlined the "byungjin" policy of the parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy.

The congress will reportedly take place in a few days. The leader of the dictator is also expected to announce a change of leadership, potentially involving his sister, and discussing other organizational, budget and audit issues.