▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) attends the ninth congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on Feb. 22, 2026, in this photo from the Korean Central Television the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks during a session of the ministry's advisory panel on unification on Feb. 25, 2026, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) N Korea-party congress

(LEAD) N. Korea discusses draft proposals of 5-yr policy goals at key congress

(ATTN: UPDATES with Seoul minister's remarks in last 3 paras, photo)

By Park Boram

SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's ongoing party congress discussed five-year plans and goals for key sectors, including national defense and foreign affairs, on the sixth day of the party gathering, state media reported Wednesday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, "Study and consultative meetings in various fields," including the economy and party work, were held the previous day at the congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Still, the North's state media made no mention of foreign policy as the first party congress in five years nears its conclusion after it opened last Thursday to review policy outcomes from the previous congress and set new goals for the next five years.

Once the new policy directions are finalized, the North is expected to unveil them in the closing session of the congress.

"The consultative meetings ... intensified the discussion on the orientation and plans of the work of different sectors and units," the KCNA said. "(They) discussed in detail the realistic proposals for achieving gradual and qualitative development.

"The discussion focused on ensuring the scientific accuracy and innovative nature in applying the general goal and principle of the five-year strategy," the KCNA also said.

The report said the meetings also discussed "technical measures" for each sector to propel the development of "the self-supporting national economy, the capital city construction and the regional development policy-oriented construction."

"The results of the collective discussion are submitted to the committee for drafting the decision of the Party Congress," it said.

Whether the North will issue a message in response to overtures from Washington and Seoul to resume talks remains a key point of attention, as the upcoming five-year plan is expected to outline policy directions on relations with the United States and South Korea.

Seoul's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young assessed that the North Korean party congress appears to be focusing on developing the economy and improving people's living standards rather than on military or foreign policy issues.

Such a phenomenon "bears a meaningful implication" for the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Chung said during a session of the ministry's advisory panel on inter-Korean unification.

The minister said he expects the two countries to reopen communication channels and resume cooperation to promote peace and mutual growth. "I hope the newly elected North Korean leadership will open a new era of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula."

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