Published Dec 26, 2023 05:25PM ET Updated Dec 26, 2023 05:37PM ET2/2 © Reuters. The days-long assembly of the party and government officials has been used in recent years to make key policy announcements. Tension has rekindled in recent weeks after North Korea tested its newest ICBM which it said was aimed at gauging the war readiness of its nuclear forces against mounting U.S. hostility. Kim also said last week that Pyongyang would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if an enemy provokes it with nuclear weapons. The United States, South Korea and Japan condemned the missile test, and activated a system to detect and assess North Korea's missile launches in real-time and established a multi-year trilateral military exercise plan.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 27, 2023 04:35 UTC