North Korea: Kim Jong-un says economic plan a near-total failure at rare political meeting

Ruler begins second Workers' party congress by admitting strategy fell short in almost all areas'

North Korea's ruler, Kim Jong-un, has admitted that his economic policies have largely failed, and vowed to avoid a repeat of the painful lessons" of the past at a rare meeting of the country's ruling party.

Kim told the congress of the Workers' party that his five-year economic plan had failed to achieve its goals in almost all areas to a great extent", North Korean state media said on Wednesday.