North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has admitted his five-year economic plan for the isolated country failed to meet its targets in "almost every sector", APA reports citing BBC.
He was speaking at the opening of a rare congress of his ruling Workers' Party - only the eighth in its history.
North Korea closed its borders last January to prevent the spread of Covid-19, despite claiming to have no cases of the virus.
That has left it cut off from its neighbour and ally, China.
Trade between the two has plummeted by about 80%. Typhoons and floods have devastated homes and crops in North Korea, which remains under strict international sanctions, including over its nuclear programme.
It is not unusual for Mr Kim to admit mistakes - in fact, it is quickly becoming one of his trademarks, the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul reports.
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