Talks can help ease Pyongyang's woes

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced last week that the ruling Workers' Party of Korea will hold its 7th Congress in Pyongyang on May 6. It will be the first major conference of the party in 36 years and the first under current DPRK leader Kim Jong-un.

The ensuing changes in the party's rank and file are expected to be big and will have far-reaching implications on the country. The conference could see the Workers' Party of Korea strengthening its hold over the military. It is also expected to highlight Kim's major political achievements in the more than four years he has been in power, especially in the development of nuclear weapons and deployment of ballistic missiles.

On the diplomatic front, the DPRK, which is suffering the consequences of the UN sanctions and could change its mindset and hint at reconciling with the international community.