North Korea is gearing up for the Worker's Party Congress.<br />Through it, the regime's leader Kim Jong-un is widely expected to cement his political status... and herald a new era of leadership... that stands independent from his father and grandfather.<br />Ji Myung-kil has more on the political event being held for the first time in this century. <br />The Workers' Party Congress is expected to declare nothing short of a new era of leadership by Kim Jong-un at North Korea's highest decision making body.<br />Seoul's unification ministry said Thursday that North Korea is seeking to cement the socialist party-centered system and further consolidate the Kim Jong-un regime through the upcoming party congress.<br />The ministry added the event will likely run for three to four days at a cultural center in Pyongyang.<br />Already more than three-thousand party members attending the congress are said to have gathered in the city. <br /><br />The congress that starts Friday will be the first in 36 years.<br />It was held six times from 1946 to 1980 but has not been convened since the rule of Kim Jong-un's grandfather Kim Il-sung.<br />The gathering is expected to showcase Kim Jong-un's achievements in the economic and military fields and cement the path for his long-term rule.<br />Kim... is expected to underscore his determination to pursue both nuclear development and economic initiatives.<br />North Korean watchers say he could be nominated to the highest post in the Workers' Party,... a promotion from his current title of First Secretary,... in order to solidify his position as the supreme leader.<br />However, there is also a possibility the event could end up being local propaganda, due to the extensive sanctions imposed on North Korea for its series of hostile provocations.<br />Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News. <br /><br />
