Pyongyang: North Korea has commenced a rare party congress, as reported by state media, with leader Kim Jong-un highlighting economic achievements at the country's most significant political event in five years, setting key policy directions on defense and the economy. "The Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) opened with splendor in Pyongyang, the capital city of the revolution," declared the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the congress, which typically spans several days, establishes state policy goals for the next five years concerning the economy, defense, and diplomacy, and makes crucial personnel decisions. This year's congress, the highest decision-making body in North Korea and the first since 2021, is under close observation for any indications regarding the country's nuclear weapons program or dialogue overtures from Seoul and Washington.
Kim Jong-un, in his opening remarks, asserted that the national economy had surmounted difficulties and laid the groundwork for progress since the previous party congress in 2021. He emphasized the strengthened global position of North Korea, possibly hinting at the nation's pursuit of status as a nuclear-armed state. Kim remarked on the favorable conditions for advancing socialist construction, urging a review of past shortcomings and the development of a strategic plan for the next stage.
While Kim omitted any reference to relations with the United States or South Korea in his speech, he concentrated on economic development. He stated that the party is tasked with the urgent historic mission of enhancing economic construction and improving the people's standard of living, as well as transforming state and social life.
Kim also mentioned the establishment of a congress preparation body by the party's central committee to evaluate the outcomes from the projects set at the 2021 congress, aiming to set more effective new goals. The congress gathered around 5,000 party representatives, including over 200 officials from the party headquarters and more than 4,700 from regional and industrial organizations.
Photographs released showed Pyongyang streets adorned with red party flags featuring the yellow hammer, sickle, and calligraphy brush emblem, alongside propaganda images, as the party energized celebratory festivities for the event. A 39-member presidium of the congress was formed, including notable figures such as Premier Pak Thae-song, party secretary Jo Yong-won, and Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un. Newly elected members of the presidium included Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Kim Song-nam, head of the party's international affairs department.
Absent from the congress were mentions or images of Kim's daughter, Ju-ae, despite speculation by the South Korean spy agency that she might be groomed as Kim's successor. The potential for Ju-ae to receive a formal title at the party event remains a significant point of interest.