North Korea Schedules Workers' Party Congress Amid Conflicting Timing Reports
North Korea's state media has announced the scheduling of an upcoming Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) congress. The exact timing varies in reports, with one source indicating late February 2026 and another suggesting late February of the current year.
The congress is anticipated to be a platform for leader Kim Jong Un to outline future domestic and foreign policies, with discussions expected on economic development, nuclear capabilities, and international relations.
Announcement Details and Discrepancies
North Korea's state media reported on the decision to convene a Workers' Party congress. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee approved the opening of the Ninth Congress of the WPK in Pyongyang.
Reports differ on the exact timing of the event. One source states the congress is scheduled for late February 2026, with the decision made during a meeting of WPK top leaders, including Kim Jong Un, on the Saturday preceding the announcement. Another source indicates the congress is set for "later this month," implying late February of the current year, following a meeting of the party's political bureau under Kim's supervision. State media has not specified an exact date or released a detailed agenda, but the event is expected to span several days.
Historical Context and Significance
The upcoming congress follows the Eighth Party Congress, which took place in January 2021. During the 2021 event, Kim Jong Un was appointed the party's General Secretary, a title previously held by his father, Kim Jong Il.
Party congresses serve as the highest gathering for the ruling party, providing a platform for policy announcements, personnel changes, and displays of leadership.
The 2021 congress occurred shortly before the inauguration of US President Joe Biden and amidst North Korea's border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Messaging from that congress was characterized by analysts as defiant towards the United States, following a period of stalled negotiations with former US President Donald Trump.
Key Policy Areas Expected
Domestic Policy: Economy and Military
Leader Kim Jong Un is anticipated to present his domestic and foreign policies for the next five years at the congress. In recent weeks, Kim has reportedly inspected weapons tests, military sites, and economic projects, with state media highlighting achievements in national development and military strengthening.
Expected areas of focus include economic development through "self-sustenance" and mass mobilization. Kim is also projected to announce further expansion of the country's nuclear-armed military capabilities, including upgrades to conventional weapons systems and their integration with nuclear forces. Lee Ho-ryung, a principal researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, suggested that Kim might announce the goal of maximizing nuclear operational capability and potentially declare its completion.
Shifting International Relations
The congress takes place amidst intensified standoffs with the United States and South Korea, and deepening ties between North Korea and Moscow.
Pyongyang has reportedly strengthened its relationship with Russia during the conflict in Ukraine, with reports of North Korean soldiers sent to support Russian forces. A mutual defense treaty was signed between North Korea and Russia in 2024. Kim has also strengthened relations with China, including a September summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Experts suggest Kim may emphasize an increasingly assertive foreign policy, leveraging closer ties with Moscow and Beijing. This approach could include a more adversarial stance toward South Korea, aligned with the concept of a "new Cold War."
Tensions persist, notably due to North Korea's objections to South Korea's development of nuclear submarine technology with the United States.
Diplomacy with the U.S. remains uncertain. Relations stalled in 2019 after Kim's second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, due to disagreements over sanctions related to North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. Kim has consistently rejected dialogue overtures, insisting that Washington must abandon demands for denuclearization as a precondition for talks. One report noted that Donald Trump, who returned to power in January 2025, has indicated a willingness to restart discussions, though without significant progress.
Continued Nuclear Ambitions
Since the 2021 congress, North Korea has progressed its nuclear arsenal, conducting multiple test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) despite UN Security Council prohibitions. Late last month, Kim Jong Un reportedly supervised a missile test from a multiple rocket launcher and stated that future plans to strengthen the country's nuclear war deterrent would be detailed at the upcoming congress.
The 2021 congress also called for accelerated development of the nuclear arsenal, listing assets such as solid-fuel ICBMs, multi-warhead systems, tactical nuclear weapons, spy satellites, and nuclear-powered submarines. Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, who is considered a potential successor, was present during a recent missile test.
Economic Landscape
Kim Jong Un, now in his 15th year of rule, appears to be in a stronger position compared to the 2021 congress, when he acknowledged previous economic policy failures and introduced a new five-year development plan through 2025.
South Korean analysts, while noting the challenges of precise assessment due to strict information controls, indicate that North Korea's economy may have improved over the past five years. This potential improvement is attributed to a gradual recovery in trade with China and an industrial boost from arms exports to Russia.