On Thursday, North Korea launched the official schedule for the 9th Workers’ Party Congress, its most significant political event. In his opening address, Kim Jong Un, the party’s General Secretary, confidently asserted that North Korea has cemented an irreversible position in the international community over the past five years. He boasted of groundbreaking achievements across all sectors, including politics, economy, defense, culture, and foreign relations.
The party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that the 9th Party Congress had commenced with great fanfare in Pyongyang, the revolutionary capital, on Thursday.
The newspaper explained that the party’s Central Committee convened this congress to evaluate the work completed during the concluding period and establish scientifically-based struggle objectives and strategies. These aims are designed to meet the demands of a new revolutionary phase while further emphasizing the principles of prioritizing the people, party unity, and self-reliance in the initial stage of the comprehensive socialist development struggle.
The report stated that General Secretary Kim took the stage alongside members of the Politburo, prompting thunderous cheers and “Hurrah!” shouts from all attendees. The congress gathered a total of 5,000 delegates, comprising 224 members of the 8th Central Leadership and 4,776 representatives elected from various party organizations. An additional 2,000 spectators were also in attendance.
Notably, Kim’s daughter, Ju Ae, was not visible in any of the photographs.
In his opening remarks, Kim characterized the five-year period since the 8th Party Congress in 2021 as a proud chronicle that ushered in a transformative phase for their socialist cause.
He recalled that during this time, despite intensified hostile forces’ barbaric blockades and sanctions, compounded by recurring natural disasters and a global health crisis, they achieved remarkable accomplishments. Kim emphasized that these challenges severely hindered development across all sectors and posed grave threats to national security and public welfare, yet they overcame these unprecedented obstacles.
Kim continued, stating that the party, the people, and the military embarked on robust practical actions with unwavering determination. They successfully implemented party decisions across all domains, including politics, economy, defense, culture, and diplomacy, achieving noteworthy, comprehensive, and groundbreaking results while significantly bolstering their self-reliant strength.
He specifically highlighted the fundamental completion of the Five-Year Economic Development Plan and the vigorous pursuit of extensive initiatives to bring tangible improvements to people’s lives through local development policies.
Kim also emphasized that externally, the country has solidified its status as irreversible, leading to significant shifts in North Korea’s relations with the international community.
General Secretary Kim identified this as a crucial juncture for advancing long-term plans, such as the new era’s local development policies and rural revolution program. He stated that this congress would review the work from the previous party congress and establish organizational measures to strengthen and reorganize the party.
Kim also pointed out serious flaws and negative elements among party and government officials, including deep-rooted defeatism, irresponsibility, conservatism, formalism, and a lack of leadership capability.
The party congress, held quinquennially, represents North Korea’s most significant political event, outlining the national strategy and strategic objectives for the coming years.
This congress will address key agendas including summarizing the Central Committee’s work, amending the party constitution, and electing central leadership. There is particular interest in whether the amendment will remove references to national reunification and formally adopt a hostile two-state line.
For this congress, 39 individuals were elected to the executive committee, including General Secretary Kim, Prime Minister Pak Thae-song, Choe Ryung-hae (Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly), Jo Yong-won (Party Organization Secretary), Choe Son-hui (Foreign Minister), No Kwang-chol (Defense Minister), and Kim Yo-jong. Additionally, Kim Bong-chol, Ju Eun-chol, Shin Chul-man, Choi Chang-hak, and Choi Hak-geun were appointed to the congress secretariat.