North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is facing the toughest challenges of his nine-year rule amid COVID-19 pandemic-related economic slowdown and natural disasters, is set to open a massive ruling Worker’s Party Congress next month, Associated Press reported. 

The leader, concerned about President-elect Joe Biden’s expected new approach on North Korea, will open a big party meeting in a bid to muster stronger public loyalty to him and layout new economic and foreign policies, the AP report said.

As the world continues to battle with COVID-19, the economy of many countries is at risk of sinking, including that of North Korea. 

According to some experts, to save N Korea’s economy, Kim has no alternative but to further squeeze his people for more labor and patience.  

The decision to shut borders due to the coronavirus has already decelerated the legal trade the state has, sending the economy into its biggest contraction. 

“As a result of the border closure, North Korea’s trade volume with China in the first 10 months of this year fell by 75%. That led to a shortage of raw materials that plunged the North’s factory operation rate to its lowest level since Kim took power in late 2011, and a four-fold price increase of imported foods like sugar and seasonings,” the AP reported.

With the sanctions, the pandemic, and the typhoons and summer floods, North Korea is facing multiple crises.