North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent nuclear weapon test was designed to boost his domestic legitimacy ahead of a rare ruling party conference in May that could formalize market-based economic experiments in the isolated country, analysts say.
The Workers' Party Congress, once a regular event, was last held in 1980.
Although violent, the years since Kim took power following his father's death in late 2011 have moved the country toward increased stability and a return to a more "formal" way of running the country, said Michael Madden, an expert on the North Korean leadership.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.