Pyongyang: North Korea has initiated a rare assembly of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), as stated by state media on Friday, marking the beginning of the country's most significant political event in five years. This event will establish major policy directions concerning defense and the economy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that "The Ninth Congress of the WPK opened with splendor in Pyongyang, the capital city of the revolution," highlighting the ceremony's commencement. Typically lasting several days, the congress sets state policy goals for the next five years focusing on the economy, defense, and diplomacy while also making significant personnel decisions.
This year's congress, the highest decision-making body in North Korea and the first since 2021, is anticipated to be closely monitored for any indications regarding the country's nuclear weapons program or potential dialogue initiatives from Seoul and Washington. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during the opening of the congress, emphasized that the national economy had surmounted challenges and laid the groundwork for progress since the previous party congress in 2021.
Kim further noted that the country had solidified its external status irreversibly, causing a substantial shift in the global political order and relations impacting North Korea, potentially referring to the nation's pursuit of recognition as a nuclear-armed state. He stated that "conditions and an environment favorable to our drive to more vigorously build socialism have also been created," as reported by KCNA.
The congress aims to thoroughly and scientifically establish plans and projects for the next phase of development while enhancing leadership capabilities to guide their implementation. Although Kim's speech did not mention relations with the United States or South Korea, he focused on accelerating economic development.
Kim acknowledged the substantial tasks ahead for the party, including advancing economic development, improving people's livelihoods, and rapidly transforming all aspects of social life in the country. He highlighted that the party's central committee had formed a congress preparation body to review and analyze the outcomes from the projects set at the previous 2021 congress to better establish new goals.
The latest congress has gathered approximately 5,000 party representatives from across North Korea, including over 200 officials from the party headquarters and more than 4,700 from regional and industrial organs.