North Korea’s Kim opens rare party congress with pledge to fix economy

South China Morning Post · Feb 20, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to lift living standards as he opened a landmark congress, state media said on Friday, offering a glimpse of economic strains within the sanctions-hit nation.The supreme leader took centre stage with a speech to start the Workers’ Party congress, a gathering that directs state efforts on everything from house building to war planning.Held just once every five years, the days-long congress offers a rare glimpse into the workings of a nation where even mundane details are shrouded in secrecy.“Today, 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 said in his opening speech.“This requires us to wage a more active and persistent struggle without allowing even a moment’s standstill or stagnation.”Delegates attend the Ninth Worker’s Party Congress in Pyongyang on Friday. Photo: KCNA ‘ ReutersFor decades, nuclear weapons and military prowess came before everything else in North Korea, even as food stocks dried up and famine took hold.

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South China Morning Post1 day ago
Where is Kim Ju-ae? Succession question hangs over North Korea’s ruling congress
North Korea’s ruling party congress, convened only once every five years, opened in Pyongyang this weekend with supreme leader Kim Jong-un poised to formalise a military doctrine with far-reaching implications for security on the Korean peninsula and beyond. State media described the opening of the ninth congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea as unfolding “with splendour” in “the capital city of the revolution”, with 5,000 delegates and 2,000 observers in attendance. The carefully choreographed...

DW News2 days ago
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Kim Jong Un lauded North Korea's improving economy as he opened the Workers’ Party congress. Held every five years, the country's most important political event is a forum for the leader to outline upcoming policies.

Al Jazeera2 days ago
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un launches key party congress held every 5 years
Kim focuses on improving economic activity in opening speech at Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

France 243 days ago
Kim Jong Un opens North Korea’s 9th party congress, highlights economic gains
North Korea has opened a major ruling party congress in Pyongyang, state media said on Friday, a rare gathering held roughly every five years that analysts say will set national priorities, including nuclear policy. The Workers’ Party congress is the regime’s top political event and often signals policy shifts or leadership changes.

France 243 days ago
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