World
North Korea Concludes Rare Congress with Massive Parade
Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans celebrated the country's newly completed ruling-party congress Tuesday with a massive civilian parade
North Korea completed a four-day congress of its ruling Workers' Party Monday, the authoritarian country's first since 1980, before leader Kim Jong Un was even born.
Above: A woman looks towards foreign reporters working near April 25 House of Culture, the venue of the Workers' Party of Korea congress in Pyongyang, North Korea on May 6, 2016.
By calling a congress — something his father, Kim Jong Il, never did — Kim demonstrated what may be a leadership style more like that of his charismatic grandfather, national founder Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung worked through party organs more than Kim Jong Il, who preferred using his own network of trusted individuals to get things done.
Above: People stand in front of pictures of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at the main Kim Il Sung square in central Pyongyang on May 7.
North Korea brought in more than 100 journalists from around the world to make sure that the 7th Congress of its ruling Workers' Party got global attention. Four days into the event, they allowed a small number of foreign journalists into the convention hall where the congress was taking place.
Above: Foreign reporters and their government guides read about the address by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the Workers' Party of Korea congress, at a hotel in central Pyongyang on May 8.
Kim told delegates that the North would not use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty is threatened and hinted that he was willing to work with countries that had previously been hostile toward the North if they are willing to work with him.
Above: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un listens during the party congress in Pyongyang on May 9, 2016.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said during a critical ruling party congress that his country will not use its nuclear weapons first unless its sovereignty is invaded. He also announced a five-year plan starting this year to develop the North's dismal economy and identified improving the country's power supply and increasing its agricultural and light-manufacturing production as the critical parts of the program, state media reported.
Above: Party representatives sit in the hall of the April 25 House of Culture during the party congress in Pyongyang on May 9.
Thousands of ecstatic North Koreans joined a mass rally and parade on Tuesday as leader Kim Jong Un capped off the consolidation of his power at a ruling party congress at which he formalized its claim to be a nuclear weapons power.
Above: Students carrying party flags stand under statues of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at the beginning of the parade in the capital's main ceremonial square on May 10.
Spectators applaud during a parade on Kim Il-Sung square during festivities marking the end of the 7th Workers Party Congress in Kim Il-Sung square in Pyongyang on May 10.