북한 김정은, 정치국회의 주재…경제운영 비판•8차 당대회 논의

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has criticized his officials for what he says are failures in running the regime's economy, which is struggling.
North Korea is to reveal its new five-year plan for its economy in January, so these criticisms are seen as a way of shoring up party discipline.
Kim Dami has the details.
Chairing a politburo meeting Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticized the agencies in charge of the regime's economy... for what he said was a failure to handle policy in a scientific manner,... and he accused them of failing to do their jobs correctly.
The criticism appears aimed at reinforcing discipline ahead of the Party congress next January where Kim will unveil the regime's new five-year economic development plan.
This past August, Kim made the rare admission that the existing plan had failed... and pledged to come up with a new one.
The North's fragile economy has not only faced COVID-19 lockdowns, it's also been hit by severe typhoons and global sanctions.
In fact, South Korea's intelligence agency said last week... that Kim had at least two officials executed in the past three months over economic issues like a sudden fluctuation in exchange rates.
Another struggle for the regime has been rising commodity prices.
Sunday's politburo meeting also covered preparations for the Party congress and the reorganization of the Party's central committee.
The KCNA added that Kim stressed the need to base the Party's economic policies on science... and that he urged North Koreans to show great dedication and responsibility.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.