Kim of North Korea celebrates his successes as he kicks off a significant year-end political gathering

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commended the achievements and victories that bolstered national power, enhancing the country's prestige throughout the year, according to state media reports on Wednesday. The praise came as Kim inaugurated a crucial political meeting aimed at setting new policy goals for 2024.

Analysts anticipate that during the year-end plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, North Korea is likely to emphasize advancements in its arms development, given the persistent impact of international sanctions and pandemic-related economic difficulties on the nation's economic landscape.

In his opening-day address on Tuesday, Kim designated 2023 as a "year of great turn and great change," celebrating the country's significant progress in the development of defense capabilities. The launch of its first military spy satellite in November and the introduction of sophisticated weaponry were highlighted as key contributors to this progress.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korea achieved rapid advancements in defense capabilities, showcasing a rare good harvest and completing new irrigation facilities ahead of schedule. It claimed that modern infrastructure, streets, and housing developments were also completed in Pyongyang and other parts of the country.

The ongoing Workers' Party meeting, expected to span several days, will assess state projects from the current year and establish new objectives for the coming year. In recent years, North Korea has traditionally released the results of this meeting, including Kim's closing speech, on January 1, replacing the customary New Year's Day address.

This meeting follows North Korea's recent launch of its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-18, designed to reach the mainland U.S. The missile launch, along with the deployment of a military spy satellite, is viewed as part of North Korea's continued weapons testing.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik suggested that North Korea's accelerated weapons testing activities aim to highlight defense achievements due to a lack of significant progress in the economy and public livelihoods. The North Korean economy has faced challenges, including pandemic-related restrictions, U.S.-led sanctions, and internal mismanagement.

Despite economic difficulties, monitoring groups have not reported signs of a humanitarian crisis or social chaos that could threaten Kim's rule. South Korea's National Intelligence Service revealed earlier that North Korea's economy contracted each year from 2020 to 2022, with a GDP last year 12% less than in 2016.