North Korea Opens Major Party Congress, Kim Emphasizes Economy

Leader Kim Jong Un expected to map out domestic and foreign policy agenda for next five years.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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North Korea has opened its most important political event, the Workers' Party Congress, where leader Kim Jong Un is expected to outline his domestic and foreign policy plans for the next five years and further solidify his family's authoritarian rule. In his opening speech, Kim emphasized economic progress and transforming all areas of state and social life.

Why it matters

The Workers' Party Congress is North Korea's most significant political gathering, where Kim will likely use the platform to bolster his nuclear and missile capabilities, strengthen ties with Russia and China, and potentially position his daughter as a potential successor, cementing the regime's fourth-generation dynastic rule.

The details

During the congress, Kim said the country has made significant economic gains since the last congress in 2021, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He did not directly address North Korea's standoffs with the U.S. and South Korea or its nuclear weapons program. Experts say Kim will likely use the meeting to unveil new economic goals and further expand his nuclear arsenal, which already includes systems targeting U.S. allies in Asia and potentially the U.S. mainland.

  • The Workers' Party Congress opened on February 19, 2026.
  • The congress is expected to run for several days.

The players

Kim Jong Un

The leader of North Korea and chairman of the ruling Workers' Party.

Workers' Party of Korea

The ruling political party of North Korea, which holds the country's most important political event, the Workers' Party Congress.

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What they’re saying

“This created favorable conditions and circumstances for giving a greater spur to our socialist construction. Our party is faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks of boosting economic construction and the people's standard of living and transforming all realms of state and social life as early as possible.”

— Kim Jong Un, North Korean Leader (Korean Central News Agency)

The takeaway

The Workers' Party Congress is a critical event that will shape North Korea's domestic and foreign policy agenda for the next five years, as Kim Jong Un seeks to further cement his family's dynastic rule, expand the country's nuclear capabilities, and strengthen ties with Russia and China amid strained relations with the U.S. and South Korea.