State media reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to increase his military capabilities, continue draconian antivirus measures, and work hard to improve the economy in a speech at this week’s key political conference.

An unspecified comment was made by South Korea and the United States in a state media report about Kim’s speech to the plenary meeting for the Workers Party, which lasted five days.

Experts believe this means Kim is not interested in any talks with Washington or Seoul soon. He would prefer to keep his borders shut while seeking an economically self-reliant country that can overcome the pandemic-related problems.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim stated that “the increasingly instabil military environment on Korea Peninsula and international politics has instigated calls for vigorously pushing forward with our national defence build-up plans without delay.”

Kim ordered production of high-powered, modern weapon systems for his army forces. According to KCNA he also demanded that the military be loyal and pledge allegiance to the ruling party he leads.

KCNA claimed that the plenary meeting had set out “tactical guidelines” for North Korea’s exterior relations, including South Korea. But it did not elaborate. There was no mention made of the United States.

As Kim celebrates 10 years at the helm, this meeting was intended to examine past projects, and decide on new policies. Kim Jong Un took over control from his father, the dictator in December 2011. He has since strengthened his missile and nuclear arsenals and achieved absolute power within his country. The U.N.’s persistent sanctions, pandemic-caused closures of borders and natural disasters have caused major problems for North Korea’s economy in recent years.

Although there are no indications of political instability within North Korea, some experts believe that the stability of Kim’s leadership may be in doubt if current problems continue.

Kim can use high-profile events like the plenary to strengthen his leadership and demonstrate that he has full control over the government. It is not clear if such meetings will offer fundamental solutions for North Korea’s problems, which can be largely attributed decades of mismanagement and self-imposed isolation, as well as its nuclear drive which has led to it being one the most sanctioned nations in the world.

Kim said that his earlier economic development plans were failing and that the country is in the “worst-ever” condition during January’s party congress.

Kim claimed this week that there had been progress in developing new plans. She said last year was a year of “great victory” and this year is a struggle for life and death. Kim mentioned progress in agriculture, construction, electricity mining, forestry, and other areas, although this could not be independently verified.

South Korean estimates indicate that North Korea’s trade volume with China, which is its most important trading partner, declined by approximately 80% between 2020 and last year, when it plummeted by almost two-thirds.

North Korea’s economic contraction was the worst since 1997. In addition, North Korea saw its highest level of grain production since Kim became president in 2011. Seoul officials stated that North Korea’s 2011 grain production improved slightly.

Kim instructed officials at the plenary meeting to prioritise anti-pandemic efforts, stating that loopholes and negligence will not be tolerated. Kim worries that North Korea’s public health system is not strong enough to deal with a serious virus outbreak. But, analysts warn that this could be true despite his questionable claims that North Korea does not have coronavirus.

Analyst Cheong Seong Chang at the Sejong Institute stated that North Korea will continue to protect its borders, resort to self-reliance and do minimal essential trade with China because of the continuing pandemic.

Cheong stated that there was “a very small possibility” that North Korea would accept U.S. requests to resume nuclear diplomacy, or South Korea’s request for a symbolic declaration of end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Leif-Eric Easley is a professor at Ewha University, Seoul. He said that North Korea was able to withstand its strict border restrictions. “North Korea’s success in ‘juche” self-reliance has resulted from covert trade and assistance by China helping meet minimal national needs.”

U.S. diplomacy to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program for political and economic benefits fell apart in 2019, when the President of the United States. Donald Trump rejected Kim’s demands for extensive sanctions relief in return for partial denuclearization steps. Kim threatened since to expand his nuclear arsenal, and create high-tech weapons against the United States and its allies.