N. Korea to stage large-scale youth events ahead of party congress

▲ North Korean people take part in the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition in Pyongyang on Jan. 12, 2026, to mark the 80th anniversary on Jan. 17 of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League's foundation, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-youth events

N. Korea to stage large-scale youth events ahead of party congress

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will stage large-scale events marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of its largest youth organization, state media reported Friday, in what is seen as an effort to drum up youth loyalty ahead of a key party congress.

Exemplary youth and army service members from across the country arrived in Pyongyang the previous day to participate in various events marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

All students and young people aged between 14-30, except those with party membership, are required to join the organization of the four key labor groups affiliated with the ruling party. The youth league is designed to instill party ideology and loyalty. Its membership is estimated at some 5 million.

The participants are expected to take part in government-organized events marking the Jan. 17 founding anniversary of the league. The party department director for labor groups, Kim Jong-sun, and officials of the league welcomed them at Pyongyang Station, the KCNA said.

The celebration comes ahead of the Workers' Party of Korea's congress, likely to be convened in early 2026, in what is seen as an effort to bolster youth loyalty to the party.

The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most widely read newspaper published by the party, ran an article Friday, saying the success of the country's socialist path depends on the "ideological determination of new generations."

"Ideological lineage and the succession of the blood of faith" are more important than anything else in passing the revolutionary path on to younger generations, the newspaper said.

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