The ruling Workers’ Party congress, previously convened by Kim Jong-un in 2016 and 2021, is set to occur amidst a backdrop of rapid nuclear and missile advancements. This period has also seen North Korea forge closer ties with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, further intensifying tensions with the United States and South Korea.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, under Kim’s direction, the party’s political bureau has agreed to schedule the congress for late February.
Diplomatic relations took a hit in 2019 after Kim’s second summit with then-US President Donald Trump ended in deadlock over disagreements concerning sanctions related to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
Since the start of US President Trump’s second term in January 2025, Kim has dismissed offers for dialogue, maintaining a firm stance.
Kim demands that the United States drop its insistence on North Korea relinquishing its nuclear arsenal as a precondition for any future negotiations.
Now entering his 15th year of leadership, Kim is in a more fortified position compared to the 2021 congress, which unfolded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Navigating what was seen as his toughest stretch in a decade of power, Kim acknowledged his previous economic policies failed and issued a new five-year development plan through 2025.
He called for accelerated development of his nuclear arsenal and issued an extensive wish list of sophisticated assets including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, multi-warhead systems, tactical nuclear weapons, spy satellites and nuclear-powered submarines.
Kim has exploited geopolitical turmoil to his advantage.
He used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a window to accelerate weapons testing and align himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has accepted thousands of North Korean troops and large quantities of military equipment for the war.
Kim also has pursued closer ties with China, traditionally the North’s primary ally and economic lifeline.
He travelled to Beijing in September for a World War II event and the first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.
While Kim’s strict information blockade prevents precise assessments, South Korean analysts say the North’s economy appears to have improved over the past five years, possibly due to a gradual recovery in trade with China and an industrial boost from arms exports to Russia.
