Asia-Pacific

US says watching closely developments in DPRK

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-29 08:30

WASHINGTON - The United States said on Tuesday that it is watching closely the developments in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the country's ruling party opened a crucial conference to elect a new leadership.

Related readings:  DPRK leader Kim Jong-il's son promoted to general  US expects Six-Party Talks with optimism  China 'crucial' in jump-starting DPRK talks on denuclearization  Kim Jong-il named general secretary of WPK Slide: A glimpse at DPRK

"We are simply watching this very closely. And as Kurt Campbell said yesterday, it's a bit too early to assess what the implications are," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.

Kurt Campbell is the assistant secretary of state in charge of East Asian and Pacific affairs.  

"We will be assessing what happens during this gathering and the implications on our present and future policies," Crowley said.

The ruling party of DPRK, the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), opened a major meeting in Pyongyang on Tuesday to elect a new leadership of the party.

DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-il was named general secretary of the ruling party at the crucial conference which is the first of its kind in 44 years.

On Monday, Kim Jong-il issued an order promoting his son Kim Jong-un and several commanding officers to the rank of general. Meanwhile, Kim Kyong-hui, Choe Ryong-hae and three others from the ruling party were also promoted to generals.

The delayed conference, originally slated for early September, was widely expected to have a great influence on the country's future.