I. Opening of the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (February 19)
- Basic Situation: On February 19, 2026, the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) opened in Pyongyang. WPK General Secretary Kim Jong Un delivered the opening address. The Congress approved three agenda items: reviewing the work of the WPK Central Committee, amending the WPK Rules, and electing the party’s central leadership bodies. In his speech, Kim stated that the 8th Party Congress convened amidst “brutal blockade and sanctions by hostile forces intensifying, and natural disasters and global public health crises following one after another,” but five years later, “everything has fundamentally changed.”
- Analysis: The convening of this congress marks a new phase in North Korea’s political life. This was a regularly held supreme decision-making meeting of the WPK as stipulated by its rules, aimed at reviewing the past five years’ work and charting the future direction. The Congress sets the political direction and economic policies for the next five years, serving as a crucial link between past achievements and future goals. Trend-wise, North Korea appears to be transitioning from a “defensive posture” focused on external pressure to a more proactive phase of promoting the “comprehensive development of socialist construction.” Economically, the Congress emphasized comprehensively advancing mid-to-long-term plans like the new regional development policy and rural revolution program, indicating a raised priority for economic construction.
II. Kim Jong Un Re-elected as WPK General Secretary, New Central Leadership Elected (February 22-23)
- Basic Situation: On February 22, the 9th Congress continued, discussing and amending the WPK Rules and electing members to the party’s central leadership bodies. The Congress expressed full support and approval for the proposal to re-elect Kim Jong Un as the supreme leader of the WPK, electing him as General Secretary. On February 23, the first enlarged plenary meeting of the 9th WPK Central Committee was held, electing a new Presidium and Politburo led by Kim Jong Un.
- Analysis: Kim’s re-election reflects the continuity and stability of North Korea’s political system. It signifies recognition within the party of the achievements made under his leadership in safeguarding national security and developing the economy. This consolidates Kim’s leadership, ensuring policy continuity. Politically, Kim Yo Jong appearing for the first time in the list of department directors of the WPK Central Committee indicates the further strengthening of the Kim family’s central role in the power structure. Economically, stable leadership aids the coherent implementation of economic policies. Trends suggest North Korea will maintain its existing political system while potentially adopting more pragmatic measures for economic development.
III. Kim Jong Un Outlines New Five-Year Plan, Emphasizes Phase of Qualitative Economic Growth (February 23-24)
- Basic Situation: On February 23, at the 9th Congress, Kim Jong Un stated that the next five years would be a period for “stabilizing and consolidating” the economy and a “phase of gradual, qualitative growth.” On February 24, details reported by KCNA elaborated that Kim identified the main achievement of the Congress as establishing five-year plans for various sectors, emphasizing that economic plans must properly combine qualitative consolidation with further development of existing foundations and capabilities.
- Analysis: This statement signifies an important adjustment in North Korea’s economic development strategy. Following foundational work in the previous five-year plan, the economy now needs to shift from quantitative expansion to qualitative improvement. The emphasis on a “qualitative development phase” suggests North Korea will focus more on economic efficiency, industrial upgrading, and technological progress, rather than solely pursuing growth rates. In terms of policy, Kim stressed consolidating production bases in major industries, improving quality and developing new products in light industry, and continuing to adjust grain production structures in agriculture. Trends indicate North Korea may introduce more market-oriented elements while maintaining a planned economy, particularly seeking breakthroughs in foreign trade and tourism. This shift could enhance economic efficiency and living standards.
IV. 9th WPK Congress Concludes, Kim Jong Un Delivers Concluding Report (February 25)
- Basic Situation: On February 25, the 9th Congress of the WPK concluded in Pyongyang. During the Congress, Kim Jong Un presented a summary report on the work of the 8th Central Committee, reviewing achievements of the past five years and establishing development plans for various sectors for the next five years. The report addressed important issues including North Korea-US and North Korea-South Korea relations. Kim stated that the previous five-year economic plan had been largely completed, transitioning North Korea to the “stage of comprehensive development of socialist construction.”
- Analysis: The concluding report systematically outlined the overall strategy for the next five years. Politically, regarding US relations, Kim stated that if the US withdraws its hostile policy, there is no reason for North Korea not to be friendly, but “the prospect of DPRK-US relations entirely depends on the attitude of the US.” Concerning inter-Korean relations, Kim explicitly stated that North Korea regards South Korea as a “thoroughly hostile country, an invariable enemy,” and will permanently exclude it from the category of the same nation. Economically, the report outlined long-term goals and tasks for various sectors under the new five-year plan, including promoting the information industry, actively developing foreign trade, and making the tourism industry a new growth driver. This comprehensive plan suggests North Korea will maintain a tough diplomatic stance while focusing on economic development, particularly seeking growth points in foreign trade and tourism.
V. Military Parade Commemorating the 9th Congress Held, Units Deployed to Russia Appear (Evening of February 25)
- Basic Situation: On the evening of February 25, a military parade commemorating the 9th WPK Congress was held at Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square, attended by WPK General Secretary Kim Jong Un who delivered a speech. The parade featured 50 foot columns and flight units, including honorary cavalry columns and columns from various military branches. Notably, the “overseas operations unit column” and “overseas engineering brigade column,” which had been deployed to Russia, appeared in the parade. Photographs released by KCNA showed the Russian flag appearing in the parade, with North Korean soldiers in several columns carrying the Russian flag alongside their national flag.
- Analysis: This parade holds multiple symbolic meanings. Politically, showcasing units deployed to Russia and the Russian flag highlights the close relationship between North Korea and Russia, a clear response to Western sanctions and demonstrating North Korea’s strategic choice in the international landscape. Militarily, while strategic weapons like ICBMs were absent, displaying the Russia-deployed units indirectly showcased North Korea’s military projection capability and willingness for foreign military cooperation. Economically, military cooperation with Russia could bring significant foreign currency revenue and technology transfer. Reports indicate North Korea has exported tens of billions of dollars worth of weaponry to Russia, providing funds and leverage for acquiring sensitive technologies. Trends suggest North Korea will continue deepening strategic cooperation with Russia as a key means to break through international isolation and economic sanctions.
Overall Analysis
The series of events in North Korea during February 2026 reveals several core trends and directions:
- Political Trends: The successful convening of the 8th WPK Congress marks further consolidation of Kim Jong Un’s leadership, with the political system maintaining high stability. Kim Yo Jong’s inclusion in the Central Committee’s department director list shows the Kim family’s central role in the power structure continues to strengthen. In foreign policy, North Korea exhibits a distinct “dual-track” approach: on one hand, showing limited willingness for dialogue with the US, conditional on US recognition of North Korea’s nuclear status; on the other, adopting a completely hostile posture towards South Korea, explicitly defining it as an “invariable enemy.” Concurrently, strategic cooperation with Russia was publicly affirmed and strengthened through the parade display.
- Economic Trends: A significant adjustment in North Korea’s economic development strategy is evident, shifting from a foundational construction phase to a “qualitative development phase.” The new five-year plan emphasizes industrial upgrading, technological progress, and efficiency enhancement, with explicit requirements for improving light industrial product quality, restructuring agriculture, and developing the information industry. Foreign trade and tourism are positioned as “new growth engines,” indicating a search for limited opening and external economic cooperation while maintaining a self-reliant economic model.
Possible Future Directions
- Internal Governance: North Korea will continue adhering to its existing political system while adopting more pragmatic and flexible economic policies, potentially introducing concrete measures for regional development and improving living standards.
- Foreign Relations: DPRK-Russia relations will deepen further, with potential expansion of military and economic cooperation. DPRK-US relations hinge on US policy adjustments, but prospects for substantial short-term breakthroughs are limited. Inter-Korean relations will remain highly tense with minimal space for dialogue or cooperation.
- Economic Development: North Korea may focus on developing sectors with comparative advantages, such as mineral extraction, specialty agricultural processing, and tourism services, while expanding external economic ties through new channels like digital trade.
- Security Strategy: North Korea will continue strengthening national defense, particularly modernizing nuclear forces and conventional military capabilities, as a core means of safeguarding regime security and responding to external pressure.
Overall, the events of February 2026 indicate North Korea is entering a new development phase, maintaining continuity in its political system and national security strategy while seeking measured adjustments and innovations in economic construction and social governance to address domestic and external challenges.