North Korea has announced it will hold a major Workers' Party congress in late February, its first in five years. All eyes are on leader Kim Jong Un as he is expected to reveal nuclear strategy and foreign policy amid close ties with Russia and China, alongside a tough stance toward the US during Donald Trump's second term.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the Workers' Party Executive Committee, led by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, unanimously decided to hold the 9th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang in late February. However, no exact date or official agenda has been announced yet.
This congress is North Korea's most significant political event as it is the first major congress since 2021 and coincides with Kim Jong Un entering the 15th year of his leadership. It is expected to serve as a platform to review the achievements of economic development and nuclear forces over the past five years.
Analysts predict Kim will use this opportunity to announce a significant expansion of military power, aiming to upgrade solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), spy satellites, and nuclear-powered submarines. Economically, the focus will be on a "self-sustenance" policy and reducing urban-rural disparities.
The world is closely watching North Korea's foreign policy, especially its strengthened ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, bolstered by military support in the Ukraine war. This support has brought North Korea technology, weapons, and food resources in return. Relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping have also solidified following Kim's visit to Beijing late last year.
Although US President Donald Trump was recently inaugurated for a second term in January 2025, Kim's stance remains cold. He insists on rejecting negotiation offers, emphasizing that the US must first abandon its nuclear disarmament conditions before talks can occur. Meanwhile, he continues to pursue a "Hostile Two-State Policy" toward South Korea, signaling preparations for a new Cold War era in East Asia.
Experts from South Korean research institutes note that Kim currently holds a stronger position than at the 2021 congress, as the economy is beginning to recover through cross-border trade and arms exports. This gives him more "options" to adopt bold policies challenging the global order.
. . .Associated Press