North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the defense ministry on the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army in this image captured from Korean Central Television, Feb. 9. Yonhap
North Korea has kicked off a rare gathering of its ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), state media said Friday, marking the start of the country's biggest political event that sets major policy directions on defense and the economy.
"The Ninth Congress of the WPK opened with splendor in Pyongyang, the capital city of the revolution" the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
Typically running several days, the congress sets state policy goals for the next five years on the economy, defense and diplomacy, and makes major personnel decisions.
This year's congress, the first since 2021, will be widely watched for any signs regarding the country's nuclear weapons program or dialogue overtures toward Seoul and Washington.
Source: Korea Times News
