Pyongyang: North Korea on Monday urged all-out public efforts to complete major projects of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea ahead of the first party congress in five years in 2026, where a new development plan is expected to be unveiled.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most widely read newspaper, issued the call in an editorial, describing the period until the ninth party congress as "a very important and responsible juncture" in implementing party decisions and transitioning to a new stage of reform. The North Korean party is expected to convene its ninth party congress in January or February, at which a new five-year development plan is expected to be formulated.

The upcoming congress will mark the first since the eighth in 2021, where a five-year economic development plan was adopted. Leader Kim Jong-un is likely to emphasize the achievements of his regional development drive, known as "the Regional Development 20x10 Policy," presenting them as significant party accomplishments.

The Rodong Sinmun stressed that "not even a trivial case of incompletion should be allowed" in the execution of party tasks as preparations for the next five-year development plan are underway, aiming to expand its upward momentum. The newspaper called for every effort to implement party decisions to complete constructions to the highest standard and to prevent any dissatisfaction or incompleteness.