Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea concludes

Kim Jong Un delivers the congress' concluding speech

Various Sources

The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea concluded on February 24 in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with Kim Jong Un reelected as the party's General Secretary. During the congress, DPRK media reported that the party highlighted achievements in national defense, including developments in nuclear deterrence capabilities, and emphasized the country’s ongoing policy directions and rapid economic development.

The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which began in Pyongyang on February 19, focused on the DPRK's efforts to recover and strengthen its domestic economy. Kim Jong Un emphasized improvements in industrial development, housing construction, and regional infrastructure, portraying significant progress over the past five years and a solid recovery from previous economic challenges including post-pandemic setbacks. Key initiatives included accelerating economic construction, enhancing people’s living standards, and implementing long-term strategies to boost national development.

The congress served as a platform to review the work of the Central Committee, discuss revisions to party rules, and elect central leadership positions. Preparatory committees had analyzed sector performance over the past five years to guide decisions on economic and party-building priorities. Close attention was given to domestic leadership consolidation as well as developing future leadership cadres. Amendments to party rules and the election of the 9th Central Committee were also endorsed.

While the congress largely focused on domestic goals, Kim Jong Un acknowledged the DPRK's external relations and asserted the country’s growing confidence in its global positioning. He emphasized creating favorable conditions for socialist construction and national development, framing the next five years as critical for achieving the country's goals.

He concluded the congress with a speech that ended:

Our ideals, goals and advancing speed will ceaselessly change and develop, but those ideals peculiar to the Korean revolution will remain unchanged and their inexhaustible might will confidently propel our socialist construction towards a bright future.

No challenge or change in situation can delay or check our advance.

Let all of us struggle vigorously to bring earlier the day when our people’s ideals and long-cherished desires will come true by redoubling our enthusiasm and fighting spirit, full of confidence in the future of the socialist cause.

(Full speech: KCNA | Article | Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's Concluding Speech at Ninth WPK Congress)