This picture taken on Dec 27, 2021 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 28 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (centre) attending the 4th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea at an unconfirmed location. (STR / KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)

SEOUL – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea top leader Kim Jong-un this week opened a key ruling party meeting, state media reported on Tuesday, a forum he has previously used to make major New Year policy announcements.

The 4th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was convened on Monday, state news agency KCNA said.

The gathering of party and government officials comes as the DPRK marks the 10th anniversary of Kim assuming supreme command of the military after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in 2011.

The gathering of party and government officials comes as the DPRK marks the 10th anniversary of Kim assuming supreme command of the military after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in 2011

"The plenary meeting is to review the implementation of main Party and state policies for the year 2021," the report reads.

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The meeting would also discuss and decide on strategic and tactical policies and practical steps for "dynamically guiding the struggle of our Party and people to usher in a new period of the development of socialist construction to the next stage of victory," KCNA said.

Around the new year, Kim has often made major policy announcements, including in 2018 when he announced a delegation to the Winter Olympics in the Republic of Korea, and in 2019, when he discussed his desire to continue talks with then-US president Donald Trump.

The DPRK has said it is open to resuming talks, but only if Washington and Seoul take steps to end "hostile policies" such as sanctions and military drills.

ROK's unification ministry, which handles relations with the DPRK, said on Monday it hoped the DPRK "will start the new year by opening the door for dialogue with the international community, and take a step forward for engagement and cooperation."

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