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| 2026-02-23 11:30:48
(2nd LD) N Korea-party congress
(2nd LD) N. Korea's Kim reelected as general secretary of ruling party for reinforcing nuclear power
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout)
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, touting the rapid improvement of the country's nuclear-based war deterrence under his leadership, state media said Monday.
"The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) decides to elect Kim Jong-un as general secretary of the WPK ... for the development of the WPK and the prosperity of the state," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing the "unshakable" will of party members, the 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.
North Korea's party regulations require the ruling party to elect its general secretary at a party congress.
The congress hailed Kim for building "the revolutionary armed forces capable of coping with any threat of aggression on their own initiative and fully prepared for any form of war."
"The war deterrence of the country with the nuclear forces as its pivot has been radically improved and our state has dynamically advanced in the orbit of prosperity ... despite the stern challenges of history," the KCNA said, quoting the congress decision.
Speaking to the congress, party secretary Ri Il-hwan said the leader "made it possible to design and create to the full the dream and ideal for prosperity, which had been desired for a long time, even in the middle of this confused planet shaking with wars and tyranny."
"Only Kim Jong-un can guide the trend of gigantic transformation of our cause put on an orbit of leap forward to a steady upturn without halt," Ri also said, adding that the country has successfully defied sanctions and become a "formidable" force recognized by the enemies.
The KCNA said the congress also adopted revised party rules during the Sunday meeting, but no particular details were released, including whether they had codified the North's policy regarding the two Koreas as "hostile countries," as some had speculated.
South Korea's unification minister said the congress appears to have solidified Kim's leadership while minimizing messages on external relations.
"Looking at the main characteristics of the congress so far, external messages have been minimized, while the content of the meeting was being disclosed at the most minimal level," ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho said at a press briefing.
The KCNA said the congress also elected new members of the party's central committee, releasing the list of full and alternate members.
The list does not include Choe Ryong-hae, the chairman of the North Korean parliament who once served as the top military leader, along with several other senior officials, signaling a major generational shift in leadership.
At the end of the congress, the party is expected to adopt a decision setting new policy directions for the next five years, including on the economy, defense and diplomacy. Whether it will issue any message in response to overtures by Seoul and Washington to resume dialogue remains a key point of attention.
North Korea launched the ninth congress last Thursday, its first since the eighth in 2021. The congress is the highest decision-making body in North Korea.
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