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North Korea's Kim Jong Un defends nuclear weapons at Congress

Pyongyang’s military and economic policy were the highlights on Friday.

By Elizabeth Shim
North Korean musicians performed an anthem to Kim Jong Un on Friday as part of events leading up to the Seventh Party Congress. Screenshot courtesy of KCTV
North Korean musicians performed an anthem to Kim Jong Un on Friday as part of events leading up to the Seventh Party Congress. Screenshot courtesy of KCTV

SEOUL, May 6 (UPI) -- Kim Jong Un extolled North Korea's nuclear weapons program at its Seventh Party Congress on Friday, an event that was being held to confirm his leadership and a military strategy that has been met with universal condemnation and sanctions against the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kim said "unprecedented results have been accomplished" and with "great success" in nuclear tests, The Guardian reported.

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State-controlled news agency KCNA had also announced Friday the country's "70-day battle" had produced significant results for the economy.

Industrial output was up 144 percent as a result of the mass mobilization movement, and industrial production at factories expanded 1.6 times. In coal mines, production increased by more than 110 percent, North Korea stated.

"The more our enemies try to take away our sovereignty and autonomy, our nuclear strike capability and national defense grows only stronger," Pyongyang said Friday, a possible reference to heavier economic sanctions and military drills being held in South Korea.

Nuclear weapons are being developed as "gifts" from scientists to the Seventh Party Congress, Pyongyang added.

Kim's policy of "Byongjin" emphasizes the co-development of the economy and the military, but North Korea has been criticized for its pursuit of weapons from China, its closest economic partner.

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Chinese state tabloid Global Times pointed out Friday the North's nuclear weapons have not secured the country and has actually done more harm than good.

In a separate statement, a Beijing foreign ministry spokesman said China hopes North Korea "achieves national development...in order to realize the happiness of the people."

Pyongyang has been postponing the opening of its markets for over a decade and has refused to follow China's example of market reform.

North Koreans who were allowed to speak to foreign reporters in Pyongyang this week had nothing but praise for the state.

"The Seventh Party Congress is very significant in North Korean history," Ri Hyok Chol, an economics professor at Kim Il Sung University, said during an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua. "We will fight to the end to realize a strong nation and to achieve victory."

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