North Korea is unlikely to chart a different course on its nuclear weapons program at its key party congress, a newspaper controlled by China's ruling Communist Party said Friday. 

The state-run Global Times newspaper, however, voiced cautious hope that North Korea may do "pragmatic analysis" about its policy of pursuing both nuclear advances and economic development. 

North Korea has been gearing up for its first party congress in 36 years, which started on Friday and is expected to display the North Korean regime's unity toward leader Kim Jong-un.

In an editorial, the Chinese newspaper described the North Korean congress as "an overall, official start to Kim Jong-un's era." 

"The congress will present the new leadership of the nation, who are believed to be younger and will suit Kim's era better," it said. 

Kim, who took power following the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in December 2011, is widely expected to use the rare congress as a venue to solidify his reign and show his credentials for his policy of simultaneously pursuing economic development and nuclear weapons. 

Political ties between North Korea and China remain soured because of the North's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons. China backed tougher U.N. sanctions following the North's fourth nuclear test in January. 

"The outcome of sticking to nuclear development is very complicated. It has brought Pyongyang far more negative effects on its security than it may have predicted when it initiated its nuclear weapons program in the early years," the editorial reads. 

"Policymakers in the country must have realized how serious the issue is, and raised strategies to develop both the economy and nuclear technology at the same time. We may see how they have decided to resolve the contradictions between the two during this conference," it said. 

"It is not realistic to expect North Korea to make abrupt changes. The nation is also unlikely to stay exactly the same," it said. 

"It has a strong desire to get rid of its long-term isolation and sluggish economy, yet in the meantime, it is confused as to how to take the first step. It is believed that there will be pragmatic analysis during this meeting," it said. (Yonhap)