Kim Jong Un opens rare party congress in North Korea

Kim Jong Un opens a pivotal Workers' Party congress in North Korea, outlining plans for nuclear advancement and economic growth.

North Korea's ruling party has opened a landmark congress, state media said Friday (February 20, 2026), launching a political spectacle expected to unveil the next phase in the nation's nuclear weapons programme.

Leader Kim Jong Un took centre stage with a speech to start the Workers' Party congress, a gathering that directs state efforts on everything from house building to war planning.

Party elites packed the cavernous House of Culture in Pyongyang for the once-in-five-years event, which is typically capped with an immense parade flaunting the military's latest weapons.

The congress offers a rare look into the workings of a nation where even mundane details are shrouded in secrecy — and will be closely watched for insights into Mr. Kim's long-term thinking.

Mr. Kim said North Korea had overcome its "worst difficulties" since the last congress in 2021, and was now entering a new stage of "optimism and confidence in the future".

"Today, our Party is faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks of boosting economic construction and the people's standard of living and transforming all realms of state and social life as early as possible," he said Thursday (February 20), according to state media.