There's speculation that North Korea could make a major policy announcement ahead of its summits with South Korea and the U.S.... as the regime is holding a Workers' Party gathering in Pyongyang today.
It's the same meeting as the one back in 2013.... when Kim Jong-un adopted his policy of simultaneously developing the North's economy AND its nuclear weapons program.
Oh Jung-hee has more on what to expect.
North Korea kicked off the third plenary session of its ruling Workers' Party's central committee this Friday.
The central committee's plenary meeting is usually held when there's a need for the Party to decide or modify its policy direction.
At this meeting in March 2013, the Workers' Party adopted Kim Jong-un's signature " Byongjin" policy,... which seeks for both nuclear and economic development.

And there's rising speculation that in Friday's meeting, we could see some changes to that policy.
A report from Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday hinted that the meeting will decide on new policies in line with (quote)"the important historic period."
That's apparently in reference to the inter-Korean summit only a week away,... and the first-ever Washington-Pyongyang summit that's currently in the works.

With these talks expected to focus on denuclearization,... the regime could show its willingness to negotiate on that.
It may stress the precondition that the regime's security has to be guaranteed first... or it might choose... not to call itself a 'nuclear state' but a 'strategic country.'
The party could also show a willingness to improve relations with Seoul, Washington and Tokyo,... and seek a peaceful coexistence within the international community.
Pundits say... the reason for Pyongyang to hold this meeting at this time... could be because it needs to provide its people with policy-based justifications... for whatever agreements North Korea reaches with Seoul and Washington at the upcoming summits.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.