North Korean state media reported Sunday that the nation has opened a major political conference to address “harsh trials and difficulties” ahead of a year-end deadline the country set for the United States to offer concessions in ongoing nuclear talks, according to The Associated Press.

Chairman Kim Jong Un Kim Jong UnFormer GOP lawmakers on endorsing Biden: Trump is no Republican, 'lacks basic self-control' North Korean leader Kim apologizes over killing of South Korean official Pelosi knocks Trump over refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power MORE led a meeting of the Workers’ Party’s Central Committee in Pyongyang Saturday, according to the AP, citing the Korean Central News Agency.

The meeting, KCNA said, will focus on finding ways to “overcome the manifold and harsh trials and difficulties and further accelerate the development of the revolution with transparent anti-imperialist independent stand and firm will.”

At its April 2018 meeting, the party agreed to suspend nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile testing. Kim imposed the deadline after he and President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE were unable to reach an agreement in February during a Vietnam summit, giving Washington until the end of the year to offer new concessions.

Pyongyang has demanded relief from U.S. sanctions as a condition of full denuclearization, with the U.S. refusing to lift those sanctions until North Korea takes further steps to denuclearize. In recent months, Pyongyang has suggested it will resume nuclear and long-range missile testing in the absence of further U.S. concessions.