North Korea's ruling party to hold highest-level convention in decades next year

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2015 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un salutes at a parade in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea's ruling party says it will hold its biggest convention in decades next May. The Workers' Party said Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 its 7th congress will be convened as it's faced with "the heavy yet sacred task" of build a thriving nation. But it didn't elaborate on what the party's highest-level body will determine. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2015 file photo, North Koreans gather at a monument built 10 years ago to honor the founding of the Workers' Party of North Korea, in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea's ruling party says it will hold its biggest convention in decades next May. The Workers' Party said Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 its 7th congress will be convened as it's faced with "the heavy yet sacred task" of build a thriving nation. But it didn't elaborate on what the party's highest-level body will determine. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) (The Associated Press)

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea's ruling party says it will hold its biggest convention in decades next May.

The Workers' Party said Friday its 7th congress will be convened as it's faced with "the heavy yet sacred task" of build a thriving nation. But it didn't elaborate on what the party's highest-level body will determine.

Seoul analysts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will likely use the congress to reshuffle party officials and present major state policies.

Since taking power upon the death of his dictator father in late 2011, Kim is struggling to revive his country's moribund economy and grappling with an international standoff over the North's nuclear and missile programs. The Workers' Party last held its congress in 1980.