Briefly

DPRK

Ninth Party Congress opens in Pyongyang

The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, the ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, opened on Thursday, with WPK General Secretary Kim Jongun attending and delivering the opening address, the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday. The Communist Party of China Central Committee on Thursday sent a message of congratulations on the convening of the WPK's Ninth Congress. In his address, Kim said, "This Congress will correctly review and analyze the work done during the period of the eighth term of the Party Central Committee, establish the lines and policies for developing our socialist construction onto a higher stage, and take organizational and institutional measures for readjusting and consolidating the Party's leadership ability."

SOUTHWEST ASIA

Iran, Russia hold joint drill amid strike threat

The naval forces of Iran and Russia held a joint drill on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, amid growing speculation about an impending United States military strike against Iran. Special operation teams from Iran's army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Russia conducted an operation to liberate a hijacked ship during the exercise, according to the Iranian army. The drill involved Iran's Alvand destroyer, missile-launching warships, special operation teams, and combat speedboats, among others, the report said.

Xinhua