N. Korea to hold Workers' Party congress May 6

By Kang Seung-woo

North Korea said Wednesday its ruling Workers’ Party will hold a seventh congress on May 6 — the first such event in nearly 40 years.

The announcement ignited speculation that Pyongyang may conduct a fifth nuclear test in the lead-up to the event.

“The party’s political bureau has decided to open the seventh Party Congress in Pyongyang on May 6,” the Korean Central TV Broadcasting Station said.

The North last held the four-day congress in 1980 under the rule of Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un.

The North did not reveal how long the event will run — although the South Korean unification ministry forecast it to be four to five days.

Analysts expect that the North will take advantage of the congress to reinforce the current dictator’s position as supreme leader and officially adopt his “byungjin line” — the simultaneous pursuit of economic development and nuclear weapons capability. Kim took power in December 2011.

“North Korea is expected to take measures to cement the one-man leadership of Kim Jong-un,” said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University.

“In addition, it will likely place the byungjin line in the party rules, clarifying that it possesses nuclear weapons.”

As part of the “simultaneous” policy, the North Korean leader is expected to unveil new economic measures in the upcoming event as well.

However, Chang said the dictator is not likely to send any reconciliatory messages to South Korea or the United States due to the current diplomatic gridlock amid strong sanctions imposed by the U.N.

There has been growing speculation that the North Korean regime may push ahead with a fifth nuclear test as a means to mark the rare national event.

On Tuesday, President Park Geun-hye said North Korea has completed its preparations for a fifth nuclear test, with the South Korean military on high alert.

“While the North is believed to be technically ready for a nuclear test, the political atmosphere there is fueling speculations,” said Chang, adding that it remains to be seen what sort of nuclear test will be conducted.

On March 15, the North Korean leader ordered his military to test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying the warhead.

Unification ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said, “We need to be open to all possibilities in regard to another North Korean nuclear test and are ready to take action against it.”

Along with the nuclear test, launching a ballistic missile is said to be another option for the North. Last week, the North tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the East Sea.

Despite being symbolic to the North, the Congress is not expected to feature high-profile foreign guests, as most countries are believed likely to skip it amid toughened international pressure.

A total of 177 delegates from 118 countries, including China and Russia, attended the party congress in 1980, according to Seoul’s unification ministry.