▲ In this image captured from Korean Central Television on Feb. 9, 2026, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the defense ministry on the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-party congress

N. Korea opens rare party conclave to lay out key policy goals for next 5 yrs

By Park Boram

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has kicked off a rare gathering of its ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), state media said Friday, marking the start of the country's biggest political event that sets major policy directions on defense and the economy.

"The Ninth Congress of the WPK opened with splendor in Pyongyang, the capital

city of the revolution" the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Typically running several days, the congress sets state policy goals for the next five years on the economy, defense and diplomacy, and makes major personnel decisions.

This year's congress, the first since 2021, will be widely watched for any signs regarding the country's nuclear weapons program or dialogue overtures toward Seoul and Washington.

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