ANALYSIS: Kim Jong-un's big plan to grow N. Korea's economy faces harsh reality

North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, attends the ruling party congress in Pyongyang, North Korean, Saturday, Jan 9, 2021. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. - AP

SEOUL, Jan 10 (Reuters): Kim Jong-un's ambitious new plan for the next five years is aimed at developing North Korea's shattered economy, but the proposals may falter in the face of major crises that have already stalled the young leader's current projects.

In remarks released this weekend, Kim blamed international sanctions as well as unanticipated crises including the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters, for preventing the government from improving people's lives, while criticising officials for mistakes that needed to be fixed.