North Korea's key ruling party congress set for late February, Pyongyang's state media reports
Published: 08 Feb. 2026, 12:50
Updated: 08 Feb. 2026, 14:16
![A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waving during an art performance celebrating the New Year at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Jan. 1. [EPA/YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/08/f1ea489d-9aae-49ee-a2b3-ff5c2bfc1e2c.jpg)
A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waving during an art performance celebrating the New Year at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Jan. 1. [EPA/YONHAP]
North Korea will hold a key party congress in late February, the North's state media reported Sunday, in a rare meeting where leader Kim Jong-un is expected to announce his ruling policy, including in the military, diplomacy and the economy.
The decision by the North Korean ruling party's political bureau came at a meeting of the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) the previous day, which was presided over by party secretary Jo Yong-won under Kim's guidance, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
"The Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee adopted with unanimous approval a decision on opening the Ninth Congress of the WPK in Pyongyang, the capital of the revolution, in late February 2026," the KCNA said.
The upcoming Ninth Party Congress, the first since the Eighth Party Congress in 2021, is expected to outline North Korea's key policies on the economy, diplomacy and defense. The party congress is the regime's highest decision-making body.
At the Saturday meeting, members of the politburo and its presidium approved decisions on the qualifications of delegates to the upcoming congress, as well as the composition of its presidium, platform, secretariat, and schedule.
While expressing appreciation for the preparations for the party congress, "Kim Jong-un clarified the principled issues and detailed tasks for the successful holding of the congress," the KCNA said.
The upcoming congress will be the third to be convened under the leadership of Kim, who took power in late 2011 and reinstated the party congress after a hiatus of more than 30 years in a bid to stabilize politics through traditional party-led governance.
As the ninth five-year plan for 2026 to 2030 — North Korea’s top economic and policy blueprint adopted by the Workers’ Party of Korea — largely overlaps with Donald Trump’s second presidential term from 2025 to 2029, Kim may use his speech at the congress to spell out more specific conditions for resuming talks between Pyongyang and Washington.
![In this June 30, 2019, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone, South Korea. [AP/YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/08/1d4f883c-0792-41f4-bbf7-3f1528ecc794.jpg)
In this June 30, 2019, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone, South Korea. [AP/YONHAP]
Previous congresses have opened with a speech by Kim, followed by an assessment of the results of policies adopted at the preceding congress and the adoption of new decisions by the leader.
The previous eighth congress lasted eight days.
During the eighth congress, Kim was named party general secretary, replacing the title of party chairman and assuming the high-profile post held by his late predecessors, further solidifying his leadership.
It was also at the 2021 congress that the North pledged to develop advanced weapons, including nuclear submarines and hypersonic missiles.
The focus of this year's congress is on the regime's foreign policy, which may determine Pyongyang's response to overtures from Washington and Seoul for talks.
While the North may leave the door open for talks with Washington, it is highly unlikely to respond to Seoul's continued dialogue offers after adopting a policy line that defines inter-Korean relations as those between two hostile nations.
Analysts also expect North Korea to convene a session of the Supreme People’s Assembly following the party congress, a step that could formalize Kim Jong-un’s elevation to the presidency, a title last held by the late state founder, Kim Il-sung.
![A photo released by the official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attending a military parade to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Oct. 10, 2025. [EPA/YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/08/a0672a30-7f14-4f40-a9c7-303cff2472ae.jpg)
A photo released by the official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attending a military parade to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Oct. 10, 2025. [EPA/YONHAP]
Since September 2024, North Korea has called Kim the “head of state,” a term that matches how the country’s 1974 and 1992 constitutions define the role of president.
If Kim Jong-un adopts the title of president, it would mark the first time a North Korean leader has held it in 32 years since the death of his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, in 1994. The move would be seen as part of efforts to further solidify Kim Jong-un's leadership.
Kim Jong-un is also widely expected to unveil new plans for weapons development after saying late last month that "the next-stage plans for further bolstering up the country's nuclear deterrent" will be clarified at the ninth congress.
The North is reported to be preparing a military parade to mark the upcoming congress, which will also be closely watched for signs of new weapon systems.
BY CHO MUN-GYU, LEE YU-JUNG AND YONHAP [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)