North Korea prepares for major party congress amid growing challenges

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will convene a rare congress of the ruling party in early January, where he will seek to rally public support and outline new long-term economic and political goals in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Kim chaired a politburo meeting on Tuesday to prepare for the congress, state media reported, without specifying an exact date for its start. As 2020 ends, the young North Korean leader is faced with compounding crises caused by international sanctions, natural disasters, and a self-imposed border lockdown aimed at preventing a coronavirus outbreak.

While North Korea’s nuclear arsenal has grown, Kim’s high-stakes personal outreach to U.S. President Donald Trump ended with no sanctions relief, and the incoming administration of president-elect Joe Biden has said it won’t ease sanctions without more concessions.

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