North Korea holds a party central conference when the deadline for denuclearization issues it poses with the United States is approaching.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hosts a conference with top Labor Party officials on Dec. 28 to discuss a range of important policy issues. "The immediate direction for the struggle of the party and the state as well as important policy issues for the new victory in our revolution against the current situation has been put on the agenda of the conference. ", the North Korean state news agency KCNA reported today.

KCNA did not disclose details about the conference, but said the conference was still ongoing. The plenary session of the Korean Workers' Party came a week after Pyongyang held a central military committee meeting to discuss strengthening national military capacity.

Earlier this month, North Korea announced it would hold a plenary session of the ruling party this month to discuss and decide important issues when the situation in the country and the world has changed.

Pyongyang has repeatedly asked Washington to meet the year-end deadline and come up with new initiatives to help resolve disagreements between the two countries over the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula. The Kim Jong-un administration also warned that it would give the United States an unwanted "Christmas gift" if their expectations were not met.

North Korea last month conducted two "critical" tests at a satellite launch site with the goal of increasing its strategic nuclear deterrent capability. In response to a warning from North Korea, US President Donald Trump said Washington was ready to deal with any Pyongyang "Christmas gift".