NKorea sets date for first party congress in decades

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL

North Korea ended months of uncertainty Wednesday by confirming via its state-run KCNA news agency that it will kick off a much awaited Worker's Party congress early next month.

The first such gathering since 1980 will formally begin May 6, which is around the date predicted by sources in South Korea.

This time around the congress is seen as a key moment for leader Kim Jong-un, who succeeded his late father Kim Jong-il in 2011.

While the KCNA announcement offered few additional details, the North's media revealed earlier this week that Kim had been elected as a delegate for three provinces "with unanimous approval".

He will also represent the country's military following a separate uncontested decision, according to a report released by the Rodong Sinmun newspaper a fortnight ago.

Kim will be expected to unveil Pyongyang's plans for the future given the absence of political opposition in North Korea.

It remains to be seen whether the congress will conclude within a week as was the case in 1980 -- but one likely change from nearly four decades ago could be a lack of foreign representation, including from traditional partners China and Russia.

Pyongyang further isolated itself from the international community by carrying out a fourth ever nuclear test in January followed by a series of rocket and missile launches.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye reiterated Tuesday that the North appears ready to conduct another nuclear test at any moment, with analysts suggesting that Kim will cite provocations as a tangible sign of success at next week's congress.