delivered the Congress's opening statement and was re-elected for another five-year term. The 9th Congress opened on 19 February 2026 in
Pyongyang. WPK general secretary
Kim Jong Un made an opening statement at the Congress. At the speech, Kim expressed "confidence" in North Korea, stating that "everything has fundamentally changed" for the better since the 8th Congress in 2021, including overcoming the "barbaric blockade" of sanctions by "hostile forces" and "creating favorable conditions" in foreign affairs. He stated that "Never has there been such a period as this one, in which we achieved so great successes despite the severity of trials and difficulties". However, he said that "deep-rooted defeatism, irresponsibility, conservatism, formalism and immaturity in leadership ability are latent at present in the work of the Party and government organs and officials". The general agenda for the 8th Party Congress were as follows: According to the
Korean Central News Agency, the review covered "politics, economy, culture, defense, diplomacy and other fields". On the third day of the Congress on 21 February, Kim continued his report. He outlined the "new fighting strategy" to guide the country and detailed the achievements in the report. Jang Kyong Guk, chief secretary of the
Sinpo City Party Committee, and Foreign Minister
Choe Son Hui also delivered speeches reviewing last five years. On the fourth day of the Congress on 22 February, after a proposal by the
Propaganda and Agitation Department director
Ri Il-hwan, Kim Jong Un was re-elected as WPK general secretary for another five-year term. The Korean Central News Agency reported that it was a unanimous decision among delegates. The Party congress also adopted a revision on the
Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea, but no details were given. The amendments included the incorporation of the
five-point Party-building line in the new era. The Congress elected the members and alternate members of the
9th Central Committee. On the fifth day of the Congress on 23 February, the 9th Central Committee held its first enlarged plenary meeting, which elected the WPK's
Politburo and its
Presidium, the
Secretariat, the
Central Military Commission, the
Central Auditing Commission and Department Directors for Central Committee Departments, and approved personnel nominations for the
Cabinet and Standing Committee of the
Supreme People's Assembly. Kim also gave a concluding speech on the day, where he promised "more substantial benefits" to reach the public while criticizing "extreme negligence, irresponsibility and fixation on immediate gains" in the management of newly built production and service facilities, while also promising to continue the country's "Three Revolutions" in the fields of ideology, technology and culture. The Congress continued holding sector-level meetings on the sixth day on 24 February, where party cadres "intensified the discussion on the orientation and plans of the work of different sectors and units" that included a "five-year strategy" that was presented earlier, with the results to be "submitted to the committee for drafting the decision of the Party Congress". The Congress concluded on 25 February. After the conclusion of the Congress, KCNA reported that Kim stated North Korea is prepared for "peaceful coexistence or eternal confrontation" with the United States based on its response to the
North Korean nuclear program, while stating that "If the U.S. respects our country's current status as stipulated in the Constitution of the DPRK and withdraws its hostile policy toward the DPRK, we have no reason not to get along with the U.S." He ruled out abandoning nuclear weapons, and said "Under the banner of so-called '
America First,' the U.S. has no regard for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests of other countries, and has been advocating 'peace through strength' solely to satisfy its hegemonic ambitions, without hesitation in invading and using force against sovereign nations". He rejected dialogue with South Korea, stating North Korea would continue the policy where "all ties with South Korea have been completely eliminated", continuing by saying "The DPRK has absolutely no business dealings with the Republic of Korea, its most hostile entity, and will forever exclude South Korea from the category of fellow countrymen". He rejected the possibility of
Korean reunification, accusing South Korea of trying to reunite the Peninsula under the "capitalist reactionary system of liberal democracy". He added that North Korea would "continuously develop and advance our traditional friendly and cooperative relations with neighboring countries" and advance relations with "anti-imperialist and independent countries". He called for further developing North Korea's military and nuclear weapons. He stated North Korea would develop its economy in a five-year plan building local industrial plants, hospitals and service facilities in 20 cities and counties every year under the
20x10 Policy, and called for turning
Pyongyang into a "world-class city" while developing less affluent towns. He stressed developing emerging industries, including space technology,
artificial intelligence and newer forms of energy. Regarding culture, he called for the literature and arts to develop "the revolutionary consciousness". On the night of 25 February after the Congress's conclusion, North Korea held a military parade in
Kim Il Sung Square featuring over 14,000 troops. Kim delivered a speech at the event, saying that "Our military will immediately launch devastating retaliatory strikes against any military hostile act by any force that violates the sovereignty and security interests of our country". Kim appeared together with his wife,
Ri Sol-ju, as well as his daughter,
Kim Ju Ae. == Reactions ==