The U.S. government anticipates that North Korea will soon unveil the schedule for the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party and continue its dual-track approach in the military sector, focusing on both nuclear and conventional capabilities.
This assessment was revealed by the Ministry of Unification in its analysis of the 13th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, released on December 12.
Officials stated that since North Korea discussed preparations for the 9th Congress during the plenary meeting, an announcement of the congress schedule through a Politburo meeting is likely imminent.
In December 2020, North Korea elected regional representatives prior to the 8th Congress held in January 2021. A similar process may precede this upcoming event.
The Ministry of Unification noted that this plenary meeting concentrated on internal matters, such as preparations for the 9th Congress, without addressing South Korea or international issues. Analysts interpret this as the regime’s intent to focus on domestic concerns until the congress, while emphasizing the roles of party, government, and state institutions in achieving qualitative development.
Notably, this meeting marked the first official mention of North Korean military involvement in Russia. The Ministry projects that Pyongyang will persist with its dual-track military strategy, likely accelerating conventional modernization through cooperation with Russia while simultaneously enhancing its nuclear capabilities.
No major leadership changes were observed during this plenary meeting. The Ministry suggests that while organizational stability is currently prioritized, potential shifts in leadership may occur during the 9th Congress.
The three-day plenary meeting, held from December 9-11, covered a range of topics including policy implementation review, Central Inspection Commission activities, 9th Congress preparations, budget execution and planning, and organizational matters.