Yonhap' news agency, News agency company

The plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party came as Pyongyang has threatened to take a "new way" if Washington fails to offer concessions in their nuclear talks before the end of this year, hinting that it would end diplomacy and return to provocative acts, reports Yonhap News Agency.It also came days ahead of a much-anticipated New Year's Day address that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is slated to deliver on Wednesday, in which he is expected to announce a major policy shift related to denuclearization and diplomatic issues.Kim opened the party meeting Saturday and presided over its second-day session on Sunday."Emphasizing the need to take positive and offensive measures for fully ensuring the sovereignty and security of the country as required by the present situation, he indicated the duties of the fields of foreign affairs, munitions industry and armed forces," Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).It however, did not elaborate on what the "offensive measures" would be.Kim also called for efforts to improving science, education and public health.The KCNA said the plenary meeting "goes on", suggesting there will be a third-day session on Monday.It is unusual for the North to have such a multiple-day party meeting, said Yonhap News Agency.The plenary party meeting is one of the communist state's highest decision-making bodies, though it rubber-stamps the policy presented by Kim who has absolute power.South Korea's Unification Ministry said it is believed to be the first time for the North to hold a multi-day party meeting since Kim took office in late 2011.The Ministry added that it was closely watching the results of the North's meeting.While the US has warned Pyongyang against provocations, saying it could lose everything, North Korea responded by saying that that it has no more to lose.( With inputs from IANS )

Yonhap' News AgencyFOLLOW

Yonhap' news agency, Latest News

Conducting business via drive-thrus, a process that allows people to purchase products without leaving their cars, were spreading acrossSouth Korea, following the success of the nation's drive-thru coronavirus testing centres, a media report said on ...

North Korea has released all but three foreigners from a coronavirus quarantine, the country's official news agency said on Friday. ...

North Korea has banned people from using public transportation without wearing masks as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus outbreak although the country was yet to report a case, state media reported Thursday. ...

North Korea appears to have picked its point man for relations with Seoul as its new Foreign Minister, possibly heralding a shift in its policy toward the US and South Korea, informed sources said here on Sunday. ...

South Korea and the US will continue to stage their joint military exercises in an adjusted manner to support efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul's Defence Ministry said on Thursday. ...

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for "diplomatic and military counter-measures" for preserving the country's sovereignty and security during an ongoing Workers' Party meeting, state media reported on Tuesday, ahead of the impending expiry o ...

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sunday chaired a crucial meeting of the ruling Workers Party to discuss "important policy issues for new victory in our revolution" ahead of the year-end deadline the country has set for the United States to offer c ...

North Korea has discussed "offensive measures" to ensure the country's sovereignty and security during the second-day session of a major party meeting, state media reported on Monday, amid concerns that Pyongyang could ditch negotiations with the US ...