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 Secretive North Korea trumpeted "miraculous results" ahead of the
event and said advances in nuclear and ballistic missile
developments, made in defiance of U.N. sanctions, were "the greatest
gifts" for the rare party congress, but little of substance was
revealed.
There was no word in Pyongyang from official sources about the
proceedings other than that the meeting was under way. North Korean
state media mentioned that congress would open on Friday but did not
carry details of proceedings as of early evening.
The congress opened on a rainy morning. Covers were hung over the
giant portraits of Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and father, Kim
Jong Il, that adorn Kim Il Sung square in the capital.
Foreign journalists invited to cover the event were not permitted
inside the April 25 House of Culture, the stone structure draped in
red party flags where the congress is expected to run for several
days.
 Foreign analysts expect the third-generation leader of the Kim
dynasty to formally adopt his "Byongjin" policy of simultaneously
pursuing nuclear weapons and economic development, and to further
consolidate his power.
"Kim is after catching two rabbits, a nuclear arsenal and economic
development, and he's likely going to declare the country is a
nuclear weapons state, so that's one rabbit," said Yang Moo-jin of
the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
"He might also lay out a five-year or seven-year blueprint for the
development of the people's economy," Yang said.
Kim has aggressively pursued nuclear weapons and ballistic missile
technology. In March, the U.N. Security Council adopted the latest
in a series of resolutions toughening sanctions against North Korea,
which conducted its fourth nuclear weapons test in January.
Giant neighbor China, the North's lone major ally, backed the
resolutions, growing frustrated over its nuclear tests.
CHINA'S WORD OF ADVICE
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, asked about the
congress at a daily briefing in Beijing, said North Korea was at an
important stage in its national development.
"We also hope North Korea can listen to the voice of the
international community, and jointly maintain northeast Asia's
lasting peace and stability," Hong said.
Thousands of delegates from around North Korea had been expected to
attend the first congress to be held since 1980, before the
33-year-old Kim was born. Security guards in suits and ties
surrounded the venue.
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The Byongjin policy follows Kim's father's Songun, or "military
first" policy, and his grandfather's Juche, the North's home-grown
founding ideology that combines Marxism and extreme nationalism.
State radio said the 7th Workers' Party congress would "unveil the
brilliant blueprint to bring forward the final victory of our
revolution", according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
North Korean state media has trumpeted a 70-day campaign of
intensified productivity in the run-up to the congress, and
Pyongyang has been spruced up for the event.
The state-run KCNA news agency cited advances in nuclear and
ballistic missile development, crediting military scientists and
engineers for accomplishments that are "the greatest gifts" for the
party congress.
"Miraculous results were produced," KCNA said, touting production in
the industrial sector that achieved 144 percent of target and
electricity generation 110 percent, although the actual targets were
not given.
Under Kim Jong Un, an informal market economy has been allowed to
grow, although it has not been officially adopted as government
policy.
However, more taxis and private cars on the streets, more goods in
shops, and more buildings under construction attest to growing
prosperity and consumption among Pyongyang residents.
South Korea has been on alert in anticipation that the North could
conduct a fifth nuclear test to coincide with the congress. North
and South Korea are still technically at war after their 1950-53
conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty.
North Korea's founding leader, Kim Il Sung, spoke for more than five
hours at the last party congress. Kim Jong Il, who almost never
spoke in public, did not hold a party congress.
(Additional reporting by Jack Kim and Jee Heun Kahng in SEOUL and
Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Paul
Tait and Nick Macfie)
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