The government believes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will order that preparations begin for the 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea when he delivers his New Year’s address on Friday.
 
A Unification Ministry official in Seoul said Thursday that Kim’s speech is likely to focus on such preparations as Pyongyang is set to hold the event next May.
 
The official added that the North’s New Year’s speech mainly centers on internal affairs rather than on South Korea or foreign-related issues. The official projected that the content of Kim’s speech will be similar to those issued in previous years.