North Korea has announced plans to hold the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party in Pyongyang later this month, prompting the South Korean Unification Ministry to anticipate intensified preparatory activities.
During a regular press briefing at the Seoul Government Complex on Monday, Unification Ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho stated that North Korea announced through a Political Bureau meeting on February 7 that it will convene the 9th Party Congress in Pyongyang in late February. It expects the preparatory process to continue, including the completion of construction projects aimed at finishing before the Congress and the gathering of participants in Pyongyang. He added that it will closely monitor related developments.
Earlier, the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on February 8 that during a Political Bureau meeting chaired by Kim Jong Un at the party headquarters on February 7, a decision was made to hold the 9th Party Congress later this month.
Regarding North Korea’s vague announcement of the Congress date as late this month without specifying details, spokesperson Yoon explained that there is a precedent from the 8th Party Congress where they announced the schedule without specifying an exact date, such as early January. It appears they are following a similar pattern this time. As for assessments that the timing of the Congress has been delayed, he added that it currently lacks sufficient information to make an evaluation, so it will continue to observe the situation.
In other news, Yoon commented on Kim’s visit to the Ministry of National Defense to deliver a speech on the occasion of the Korean People’s Army Foundation Day (February 8), stating that the speech primarily focused on encouraging the military and contained no messages directed at South Korea or other foreign countries.