The Worker's Party of Korea (WPK), the ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has decided to hold a major conference in Sept. 28.

The conference, the first of its kind in 44 years, is expected to elect the ruling party's highest leading body. Delegates are expected to discuss and decide the routes, policies and personnel changes of the party.

According to the charter of the WPK, the Central Committee of the WPK can hold a WPK conference between the party's two national congresses.

The WPK conference can debate and make decisions on urgent issues such as the party's routes, policies, strategy, personnel changes and tactics.

It can dismiss members, alternate members and associate alternate members of the Central Committee of the WPK who fail to fulfill their obligations, and hold a by-election for members, alternate members and associate alternate members of the Central Committee of the WPK.

The process of electing party members and the proportion are prescribed by the Central Committee of the WPK.

The DPRK has previously held two WPK conferences -- one in March 1958 and the other in October 1966.

At the first WPK conference, the anti-sectarian battle in the country was summed up and issues about strengthening the unification and solidarity were raised.

Besides, the conference also discussed the basic guidelines for a five-year plan to boost the national economy, and set the goal of economic development and concrete measures to achieve it, stressing that the light industry and agriculture should be developed together with the heavy industry.

At the second WPK conference, then DPRK leader Kim Il Sung made a speech titled the "Situation at Present and Tasks of Our Party," in which he analyzed the international situation and clarified the principles and position of the WPK on the international socialist movement.

The strategy and guidelines of strengthening the fight against imperialism and the United States were also clarified at the conference.

The conference also laid down the guidelines of paying equal attention to economic construction and defense construction.

Kim Il Sung was elected general secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK at the 1966 conference.