Seoul: North Korea has a development plan aimed at building a socialist powerhouse by 2035, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper reported Wednesday. The Japan-based Choson Sinbo revealed the plan in a travelogue by its delegation that recently visited North Korea for the 80th founding anniversary of the North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Choson Sinbo outlined the first stage of the 15-year vision aimed at achieving a socialist powerhouse by around 2035. The report highlighted that prosperity would prevail and the entire population would experience happiness. This stage will be finalized, and a new reform period will begin, coinciding with a ruling party congress set for early next year.

At its eighth party congress in 2021, North Korea had already adopted a five-year economic development plan. The upcoming ninth congress is expected to unveil another five-year plan, detailing North Korea's major policy stance.

The recent report by Choson Sinbo suggests that North Korea is adhering to a 15-year development strategy, structured into three five-year phases. Following the 2021 party congress, North Korean media quoted leader Kim Jong-un, who expressed in a letter to a youth association that the ruling party is committed to a significant effort over the next 15 years to transform North Korea into a socialist powerhouse, thereby enhancing the well-being and prosperity of its citizens.