북한 김정은, 정치국회의 주재…경제운영 비판•8차 당대회 논의<br /><br />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.<br />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.<br />Kim Dami has the details.<br />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.<br />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.<br />This past August, Kim made the rare admission that the existing plan had failed... and pledged to come up with a new one.<br />The North's fragile economy has not only faced COVID-19 lockdowns, it's also been hit by severe typhoons and global sanctions.<br />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.<br />Another struggle for the regime has been rising commodity prices.<br />Sunday's politburo meeting also covered preparations for the Party congress and the reorganization of the Party's central committee.<br />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.<br />Kim Dami, Arirang News.<br />
