North Korea’s largest political event opens with thousands in attendance; leadership and major domestic and foreign policies on the agenda

According to Financial News, the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korea’s largest political event attended by thousands, opened on January 19. Around 5,000 party, government, and military delegates took part in the event, rising to about 7,000 when including 2,000 observers. The 9th Party Congress will discuss the country’s domestic and foreign policy line for the next five years and present military and economic strategies. It is also expected to decide whether to maintain the current stance that treats the two Koreas as hostile separate states. On relations with the United States, the congress is likely to focus on either setting conditions for dialogue with Washington or doubling down on a hard-line course of strengthening nuclear and missile capabilities. These choices will form the core of North Korea’s external policy and will be announced in connection with what the regime claims as its achievements over the past five years.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 20th that the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea opened the previous day in the capital, Pyongyang. In his opening address, Kim Jong Un said the congress had "brought about a great change in the global political landscape and in the way it affects our state," and assessed that "favorable conditions and environment have been created for us to push ahead more vigorously with the construction of socialism."
As in the 8th Party Congress, observers believe Kim’s official titles and authority could be further elevated and the composition of the ruling elite reshuffled. One key question is whether the title of "President" will be formally conferred on Kim Jong Un. The congress may also be used to lay the groundwork for designating his eldest daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his successor. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) recently assessed that Kim Ju-ae is effectively in the stage of being internally designated as heir apparent. The Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party, officially recognized minor parties under the WPK, sent congratulatory messages marking the opening of the 9th Party Congress.
Kim stated that "the Party is faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks to revive economic construction and the people’s livelihood and to rapidly transform every field of the country’s social life." He went on to stress that "the new planning period is an important time when we must push in earnest the medium- and long-term plans that have been drawn up and set in motion to realize the people’s long-cherished aspirations, including the new policy for provincial development and the program for a rural revolution in the new era."
He also noted that "in-depth research has been conducted on issues related to revising the Party rules, reorganizing the Party’s leadership capacity, and other matters arising in further strengthening the Party’s leading functions in line with the demands of the five major lines for Party building in the new era."
The congress is also expected to unveil a medium- to long-term military roadmap, including military strategy and directions for weapons development and deployment. In parallel with the 9th Party Congress, North Korea staged a show of force by deploying large numbers of 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launchers, capable of striking all of South Korea, in and around Pyongyang, the venue of the congress. Military experts classify this system as a "missile-class multiple rocket launcher" that can be fitted with nuclear warheads, and they assess that the addition of precision-guidance capabilities has significantly increased its operational threat.
Delegates to the 9th Party Congress include representatives from Party organizations nationwide, members of the Party Central Committee, and representatives of key bodies such as the military, the Cabinet, and the Ministry of Social Security. In total, 5,000 delegates are attending, including 224 members from central Party organs and 4,776 representatives elected from local and functional organizations. Among them, 413 are women, down from 501 at the 8th Party Congress.
Based on precedent, the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea is expected to run for about a week. The 7th Party Congress in 2016 and the 8th Party Congress in 2021 also lasted a similar length of time, between three and nine days, during which the Party delivered its general review reports, made policy decisions, and decided personnel appointments.
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter