North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gives a speech during a ceremony marking the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang, Sunday, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. Yonhap
North Korea is set to convene a ruling Workers' Party congress later this month, a closely watched political gathering that will outline the country's military and foreign policy priorities throughout 2031, as well as the future of Kim Jong-un's leadership structure.
Held every five years, the congress is North Korea’s largest political event. Thousands of delegates from across the country gather in Pyongyang, where the leader reviews the past term and unveils a new five-year plan outlining domestic and foreign policy priorities.
The political bureau of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea decided last week to open the ninth congress in late February, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency.
While the exact date has not been disclosed, recent developments suggest that preparations are in the final stages. Kim has attended a series of ceremonies marking the completion of economic projects, moves seen as an effort to frame the upcoming congress as a celebratory milestone.
According to South Korea's Ministry of Unification, the gathering, which typically spans several days, is expected to assess the party's performance under the slogan of "self-reliance." It may also hail the regime's success in overcoming three major hardships over the past five years: the COVID-19 pandemic, international sanctions and natural disasters.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, front row third from left, attends the eighth ruling party congress in Pyongyang, Jan. 9, 2021, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
Foreign policy messages toward the United States and South Korea are likely to draw particular attention as speculation rises over renewed U.S.-North Korea talks.
"If there is a message to Washington during the congress, it is likely to reiterate its existing position rather than adopt a drastically different tone, as Pyongyang will be closely watching U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to China in April," Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies, told The Korea Times.
Kim has previously signaled that he is open to meeting Trump on the condition that Washington abandons "its obsession with denuclearization and seeks peaceful coexistence based on reality."
Source: Korea Times News
