On Thursday, Pyongyang witnessed the opening of a major conference of the Workers' Party of Korea, headed by Kim Jong Un, in a political event that is expected to redraw North Korea's nuclear and military priorities and define the features of its internal policies and foreign alliances, especially in light of the deepening of the partnership with Russia, the continuation of ballistic missile tests, and international anticipation of any military parades that may reveal new, more advanced and lethal weapons.
Published on: 02/20/2026 - 03:13 Last updated: 02/20/2026 - 08:22
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened a major ruling party conference in Pyongyang on Thursday, stressing that his country has overcome "the worst difficulties," according to what the Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday.
Jong Un pointed out that five years ago, North Korea faced a stage that he considered “the most difficult,” but it is now, in his words, on the cusp of a stage characterized by “optimism and confidence in the future.”
This conference, which is held every five years, is a pivotal political milestone that analysts believe will shape the country’s priorities in the coming years, including its nuclear orientations. The official agency reported that the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "opened with a great celebration in Pyongyang" on Thursday.
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The role of the conference is not limited to celebratory speeches, as it is also seen as a potential platform to announce shifts in internal and foreign policies, or to make changes in the hierarchy of the ruling elite. Observers recall the January 2021 conference, during which Kim was appointed Secretary-General of the party, a title that was reserved for his father and predecessor Kim Jong Il, in a move that was widely understood to be aimed at consolidating his power.
The previous conference was held a few days before the inauguration of Joe Biden as President of the United States, and at the height of North Korea's borders being tightly closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, Pyongyang has continued to develop its nuclear arsenal, and has carried out a series of intercontinental ballistic missile launches, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and bans.
On the external track, North Korea intensified its rapprochement with Russia during the war in Ukraine, amid Western accusations of providing military support to Moscow. In 2024, the two countries signed a treaty that included a clause for mutual defense, in an additional indication of the depth of their partnership.
In parallel, analysts are waiting for satellite images to monitor any preparations for huge military displays on the sidelines of the conference, similar to what happened on previous occasions. Any potential parade will be subject to careful monitoring in search of indications of a change in North Korea's military orientations, especially since Pyongyang has been exploiting these displays to showcase its latest and most lethal weapons systems.
France 24/AFP
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