Torrential rains have devastated crops in a country struggling to overcome impact of COVID-19 restrictions
This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a ruling party meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Aug. 13 2020. North Korea will open a high-profile political conference on Aug. 19, 2020 to discuss unspecified “crucial” issues as it struggles to keep afloat a sanctions-ravaged economy hit further by a global pandemic and devastating flooding.
The announcement of the meeting came as the United States and South Korea began their annual summertime military exercises, which have been scaled down this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.Pyongyang’s official media has yet to comment on this year’s drills, which will mainly involve computer-simulated war scenarios.
During the last plenary meeting of the party’s Central Committee in December, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed deep frustration over the diplomacy with the Trump administration and vowed to bolster his nuclear deterrent in face of “gangsterlike” U.S. pressure. He also warned of unspecified “shocking” action and that his country will soon reveal a new “strategic weapon” to the world.
During a meeting of the party’s political bureau last week, Kim said his country faces a dual challenge of fending off COVID-19 and repairing damage from torrential rain that lashed the country in past weeks, destroying thousands of homes and nearly 100,000 acres of crops. However, Kim insisted the North will keep its borders shut and reject any outside help.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Korea reports 279 new COVID-19 cases, highest one-day total since MarchSouth Korea has reported 279 new coronavirus cases in the highest daily jump since early March, as fears grow about a massive outbreak in the greater capital region.
Read more »
Thousands of South Korea church members quarantined over virusThousands of members of a Protestant church linked to a coronavirus cluster in Seoul have been asked to quarantine, South Korean authorities said Monday, as they accused the group's firebrand conservative leader -- who has reportedly tested positive -- of obstruction.
Read more »
More than 100 people protest outside U.S. postmaster general’s North Carolina homeThe crowd is protesting cutbacks, delays and other changes to the U.S. Postal Service that have created fears for mail-in voting ahead of the November presidential election
Read more »
Kim Jong-un orders North Koreans to hand over pet dogs — so they can be used as meat\u0027Authorities have identified households with pet dogs and are forcing them to give them up or forcefully confiscating them and putting them down\u0027
Read more »