INTERNATIONAL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country must be prepared for a "very giant struggle" next year to continue to make progress in areas including defence, agriculture and construction, state-run television KRT reported on Thursday.

Kim made the remarks on Wednesday at a meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party's politburo, which decided to hold a plenary meeting of the committee next month.

Kim said that while the country still faces economic difficulties, the party has had success in pushing to meet policy targets and implementing the five-year economic plan he unveiled early this year, state media said.

Kim has sought to boost the economy and power supply with his plan, but U.N. agencies have said food and electricity shortages remain, exacerbated by sanctions imposed over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

^{PHOTO: NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN AND OFFICIALS ATTENDING MEETING OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF WORKERS' PARTY OF KOREA (WPK) / KIM SPEAKING, OFFICIALS TAKING DOWN NOTES AND RAISING HANDS / EXTERIOR OF OFFICE BUILDING OF WPK CENTRAL COMMITTEE}