▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on Feb. 22, 2026, in this Korean Central News Agency photo published the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-party congress

N. Korea's Kim reelected as general secretary of ruling party at key congress

By Park Boram

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's ruling party reelected Kim Jong-un as its general secretary at the ongoing party congress, state media reported Monday, as the event is expected to unveil major policy goals for the next five years.

"The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) decided to reelect Comrade Kim Jong-un as the WPK's general secretary ... for our party's enforcement and development and our nation's prosperity," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing "unwavering" consent from party members, people and soldiers.

The KCNA reported the congress decision made the previous day, the fourth day of what is typically several days of meetings, at the end of which key policy goals for the next five years are announced, including on the economy, defense and diplomacy.

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