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The Workers’ Party congress, orchestrated by Kim Jong Un, is set to take place once more, following its previous gatherings in 2016 and 2021. This event comes on the heels of intensified nuclear and missile advancements and strengthened relations with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, further escalating tensions with the United States and South Korea.
The Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s state media outlet, reported that the political bureau convened under Kim’s guidance to schedule the congress for late February.
However, the state media has yet to announce a specific date or outline the agenda for the event.
The forthcoming congress is expected to unfold over several days, serving as a meticulously organized showcase of Kim Jong Un’s autocratic governance.
Meanwhile, a dramatic moment occurred when Julie Andrews struck back during her acceptance speech, leaving the audience in awe.
His recent activities and comments suggest Kim will use the congress to double down on economic development through “self-sustenance” and mass mobilisation while announcing plans to further expand the capabilities of his nuclear-armed military, including upgrading conventional weapons systems and integrating them with nuclear forces.
Kim also could highlight his increasingly assertive foreign policy based on closer ties with Moscow and Beijing while hardening an adversarial approach toward rival South Korea as he continues to embrace the idea of a “new Cold War”, experts say.
Relations derailed in 2019 after his second summit with US President Donald Trump due to disagreements over sanctions against his nuclear weapons program.
Kim has rejected Trump’s overtures for dialogue since the US president began his second term in January 2025.
Kim insists Washington abandon demands for the North to surrender its nuclear weapons as a precondition for future talks.
Entering his 15th year in rule, Kim finds himself in a stronger position than when he opened the previous congress in 2021 during the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Navigating what was seen as his toughest stretch in a decade of power, Kim acknowledged his previous economic policies failed and issued a new five-year development plan through 2025.
He called for accelerated development of his nuclear arsenal and issued an extensive wish list of sophisticated assets including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, multi-warhead systems, tactical nuclear weapons, spy satellites and nuclear-powered submarines.
Kim has exploited geopolitical turmoil to his advantage.
He used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a window to accelerate weapons testing and align himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has accepted thousands of North Korean troops and large quantities of military equipment for the war.
Kim also has pursued closer ties with China, traditionally the North’s primary ally and economic lifeline.
He travelled to Beijing in September for a World War II event and the first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.
While Kim’s strict information blockade prevents precise assessments, South Korean analysts say the North’s economy appears to have improved over the past five years, possibly due to a gradual recovery in trade with China and an industrial boost from arms exports to Russia.