The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) opened the 5th plenary session of its central committee on Saturday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. 

The plenary session, convened and presided over by leader Kim Jong Un, was intended to lay out a new "transparent anti-imperialist independent stand" for the country in the face of stalled talks with the United States, the KCNA said. 

The meeting was held "in order to overcome the manifold and harsh trials and difficulties, and further accelerate the development of the revolution with transparent anti-imperialist independent stand and firm will," the report said.

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It will also discuss important matters "arising in the party building and activities, and in the building of the state and national defense," said the KCNA. 

Kim delivered a report on the work of the WPK's Central Committee and the overall situation of state affairs at the first-day session, it reported, without elaborating on the content of the report. 

The meeting, attended by members and alternate members of the Central Committee and members of the WPK's Central Auditing Commission, will continue on Sunday, the report said. 

Earlier this month, the DPRK said it would hold a plenary session of its ruling party sometime this month to discuss and decide on crucial issues due to the changed situation at home and abroad, without elaborating. 

Pyongyang has repeatedly asked Washington to meet its year-end deadline and to offer a new initiative to iron out their differences over the DPRK's nuclear weapons program. It warned Washington earlier this month that failure to meet Pyongyang's expectations could result in an unwanted "Christmas gift." 

In the midst of heightened tensions between the DPRK and the United States, Pyongyang conducted two "crucial" tests at a satellite launch site this month to bolster its strategic nuclear deterrence. 

In response to the DPRK's warning, U.S. President Donald Trump said last week the United States was ready to deal with any "Christmas gift" amid U.S. concerns Pyongyang might be preparing a long-range missile test.

(Cover: DPRK leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in this undated photo released on December 28, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

(With input from agencies)