DHAKA: Workers Party of North Korea will hold its first congress in nearly 40 years next month.

The meeting, which will take place in Pyongyang from May 6, will be only the seventh in the party’s history and the first under leader Kim Jong-un.

It will be closely watched for signs of major policy shifts, movement among senior officials or comment on North Korea’s nuclear program, BBC reports on Wednesday (April 27).

It comes as North Korea is believed to be preparing a fifth nuclear test.

North Korea has often timed its controversial tests to coincide with big political occasions.

But it is widely expected that Kim will use the gathering to both reinforce his role as Supreme Leader and to push his agenda of economic development coupled with nuclear progress.

BDST: 1445 HRS, APR 27, 2016
SAS/RR