North Korean chief Kim Jong Un applauds as he attends the Ninth Congress of the Employees’ Social gathering of Korea (WPK), the place he was re-elected as basic secretary, in Pyongyang, North Korea, February 22, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters
North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has been re-elected because the Normal Secretary of the ruling Employees’ Social gathering at a uncommon congress, state media stated Monday (February 23, 2026).
The choice was made Sunday (February 22) — day 4 of the congress — “in accordance with the unshakable will and unanimous want of all of the delegates”, the Korean Central Information Company stated.
Underneath the management of Mr. Kim, “the conflict deterrence of the nation with the nuclear forces as its pivot has been radically improved,” the KCNA report stated.
Held simply as soon as each 5 years, the days-long occasion congress presents a uncommon glimpse into the workings of a nation the place even mundane particulars are shrouded in secrecy.
The gathering directs state efforts on every thing from home constructing to conflict planning.
In his speech to open the congress on Thursday, Mr. Kim vowed to elevate residing requirements, providing a glimpse of the financial strains affecting his sanctions-hit nation.
“At this time, our occasion is confronted with heavy and pressing historic duties of boosting financial development and the individuals’s way of life and remodeling all realms of state and social life as early as potential,” Mr. Kim stated.
For many years, nuclear weapons and navy prowess got here at the beginning else in North Korea, at the same time as meals shares dried up and famine took maintain.
However since assuming energy in 2011, Kim has confused the necessity to additionally fortify the impoverished nation’s financial system.
On the final occasion congress in 2021, Kim made a particularly uncommon admission that errors had been made in “virtually all areas” of financial growth.
Mr. Kim has already declared this yr’s congress will unveil the subsequent section within the nation’s nuclear weapons programme.
State media reported Monday (February 23) that in Sunday’s session, the occasion additionally voted to revise its personal guidelines with a view in direction of “consolidating the Social gathering ranks in a qualitative manner” and making certain “impartiality in making use of the Social gathering self-discipline.”
It’s simply the ninth time the Employees’ Social gathering congress has convened below the Kim household’s decades-long rule.
The assembly was shelved below Kim’s father Kim Jong Il, however was revived in 2016.
Mr. Kim has spent years stoking his cult of persona in reclusive North Korea, and the congress presents one other probability to reveal his absolute grip on energy.
Printed – February 23, 2026 04:13 am IST