Briefly

DPRK

Ruling party congress vows self-reliance

The eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea closed on Tuesday, state media reported on Wednesday. Kim Jongun, the reelected general secretary of the WPK, concluded the congress with a speech. He stressed the need for the whole party to deeply cherish and uphold the ideas of "believing in people as in heaven", "single-minded unity" and "self-reliance", according to the report. The eight-day congress put forth a new five-year economic development plan and its new policy on military affairs and foreign relations.

IRAN

Missile drill held in Gulf of Oman amid tensions

Iran's navy began a short-range missile drill in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, state TV reported, amid heightened regional tensions. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged Iran had become a new "home base" for al-Qaida. But Iran, a Shiite state, is opposed to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, both extreme Sunni movements. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Pompeo "is pathetically ending his disastrous career with more warmongering lies".

Xinhua - Agencies