North Korea's Kim Jong Un Unveils Five-Year Economic Plan, Touches on Non-Proliferation and Denuclearization During Speech
North Korea may be the most secretive and isolated country in the world, but everyone knows that its economy is failing due to the government's insistence of putting majority of its money for military build-up. But that may soon change, at least in theory, with the nation's leader's five-year economic plan unveiled in a speech made on Sunday.
The speech, per Reuters report, revealed something that hasn't been done for decades. The young leader also said that his country will "faithfully fulfill its obligation for non-proliferation and strive for global denuclearization." He also surprisingly claimed that his country is open to "normalizing" ties with states that had been hostile to it. But if the country's sovereignty is threatened, he said that they will not hesitate in using nuclear weapons.
Just like his previous appearances to the public and his speeches, this one was aired exclusively on state television and was delivered to the audience of the congress of the Worker's Party.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
While the five-year economic plan is something new, North Korea actually has made similar statements in the past about working out differences with its perceived enemies like South Korea and the U.S. However, the nation has been defiant when it comes to recognizing resolutions from the UN when it comes to nuclear weapons buildup. CNN reported that Kim is planning to hold talks with the South, but it's hard to believe that kind of pronunciation considering that the two countries are still technically at war.
The economy of the Asian nation is marred by sanctions from the U.N., the latest one being in March when Kim defied strong opposition from other countries, including its ally, China in launching another nuclear test. The nation does not think twice in showcasing its military might, especially its collection of weapons.
According to Kim's five-year plan, there will be focus on boosting economic growth and the development of domestic sources of energy for electricity supply. Well, it definitely is a good plan if it pushes through because North Koreans suffer the most when it comes to power interruptions and frequent blackouts, even in its major cities like Pyongyang.
