Mysterious N.Korea keeps world guessing on rare meeting

A female North Korean soldier stands guard on the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, September 9, 2010.

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's capital is ready for its biggest political event in decades: giant billboards proclaim an event to make the country's "history shine forever," the dress rehearsals are complete and the army is ready.

But like all things in secretive North Korea, the event -- a conference of the ruling Worker's Party (WPK) which is widely expected to anoint Kim Jong-il's son as his successor -- is shrouded in mystery.

The gathering of the country's ruling elite comes at a critical time for the destitute North after a botched currency reform late last year triggered inflation and wiped out ordinary citizen's savings.

Kay Seok, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Seoul, said North Koreans believe the government "stole" their money, and anger still runs high.

But the party conference is unlikely to introduce any major policy changes, analysts say. Rather, it will rather focus on burnishing the party's image.

The North's official KCNA news agency said in June the Politburo of the WPK Central Committee had decided to convene a conference "for electing its highest leading body reflecting the new requirements of the WPK."

Analysts read this as meaning the party wants to improve its position as the major power group in North Korean society.

The party has played second fiddle to the National Defense Commission in recent years as Kim has embraced a military-first policy. But now he needs to win the backing of the political elite in pushing through his son, Kim Jong-un's succession.

Reinforcing the belief that succession issue will be on the agenda, Kim referred to his visit last month to China as being an "important historical mission to hand over to the rising generation."

SPECULATION RUNS HIGH

But no one can say for certain what the conference will be about, or even when it will start.

"This is one of the black spots in the world, we have very limited information and everything is highly speculative," said Kim Seung-hwan, an expert on the North at Myungji University.

"The when, where and what are all still up in the air."

Rodong Sinmun, the WPK's official daily newspaper, reported on Monday that party delegates were coming from all parts of the country to Pyongyang.

By Thursday, there was still no indication of when the conference would start. South Korean media speculated that perhaps the biggest political gathering in the North for 30 years had been delayed, possibly because of Kim's poor health.

Kim, suspected of suffering a stroke in 2008, could be feeling the side-effects of a five-day trip through northern China late last month and his minders are concerned about the strains the meeting might have on his health, media reported.

Chosun Ilbo questioned whether Kim, who as party general secretary, will be able to sit bolt upright in front of thousands of deputies and TV cameras at least for five hours a day, and whether he is capable of standing up to deliver his speech.

But KCNA reported late on Wednesday that Kim was up to attending a show by the art and propaganda squad of a military unit to mark the anniversary of the state's founding.

By all accounts, Pyongyang is ready for the gala performance.

Giant billboards herald the event, appealing to North Koreans to protect their country "even if we give our lives." The posters show an armed soldier and peasant worker, surrounded by balloons and a glowing hammer-and-sickle.

China's Xinhua news agency reported this week that thousands of North Koreans had participated in a rehearsal celebration.

And in North Korea, any big event would not complete without a military.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said last month the North had deployed troops, artillery and tanks near the capital in preparation a massive national event, probably the WPK conference and the 65th anniversary of its founding in October.

(Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)