After over a month since the North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi ended without an agreement,... Pyeongyang announced its new policy direction this morning,... after having a major party meeting on Wednesday
For more, we have our unification ministry correspondent Oh Jung-hee on the line.
Jung-hee, so what does the North say?
Hey Mark.
North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea held a full meeting of its central committee yesterday, led by the regime's leader Kim Jong-un.
Pyeongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency says it has discussed three main areas -- the economy, organizational matters, and personnel management... and what draws our attention is the first of these.
Kim Jong-un shared his analysis of the current international situation and the summit he had with U.S. President Trump.
Then he laid out his party's direction... that the country will have to increase its spirit of (quote)"self-reliance" and strengthen its foundation for an independent economy.
He specifically said that the regime will have to build an economy that stands on its own power, technology, and resources... and this will have to (quote)"strike a blow to those who misjudge that the regime will give in to the sanctions."
So here, Kim Jong-un is definitely making his message -- that he will keep his focus on economic development and won't really veer back to developing nuclear weapons... but at the same time, won't give in to international sanctions, and won't accept the U.S. all-or-nothing deal,... and that the North will stand on his own in developing its economy.
Today, the North's parliament -- the Supreme People's Assembly -- is holding its first meeting since being newly formed last month.
The body is expected to ratify decisions made Wednesday through the ruling party meeting.
Mark.