It marked the first time since 2006 that such a gathering was held in North Korea. It was also the first meeting under the regime of incumbent leader Kim Jong-un.

At the meeting, North Korean premier Pak Pong-ju stressed the need for all economic and planning officials to "materialize" the idea of the North's leader "without fail," according to the KCNA.

At a rare congress by the WPK, the North's leader laid out a five-year strategy for economic growth, stressing the need to improve the people's livelihoods and tackle electric power shortages.

At the party event, the North's leader made it clear that he will "permanently" defend the pursuit of his signature policy of developing nuclear weapons in tandem with boosting the country's moribund economy, commonly known as the "byeongjin" policy. (Yonhap)