North Korea opens rare party congress with economy in focus

North Korea has begun its Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, a tightly choreographed political gathering that takes place only once every five years and serves as the country’s main stage for setting long-term priorities in defence, diplomacy and the economy.

State media described the opening in grand terms.

“The Ninth Congress of the WPK opened with splendour in Pyongyang, the capital city of the revolution,” the Korean Central News Agency reported, confirming that the meeting started on Thursday and is expected to run for several days.

These congresses are less about immediate policy announcements and more about signalling direction. They establish the framework that guides government institutions, the military and provincial leadership for years ahead, which is why analysts watch them closely for shifts in tone as much as for specific decisions.

In his opening speech, Kim Jong Un avoided direct references to relations with South Korea and the United States, both of which Pyongyang routinely labels as its main adversaries. Instead, he put the spotlight on domestic concerns.

“Ahead of our party are heavy and urgent tasks of advancing economic development and improving people’s livelihoods, and transforming all aspects of social life in the country as quickly as possible,” Kim said.

That emphasis is notable in a system where military development usually dominates the public narrative. It suggests that economic performance has become a central political priority.

The real condition of the North Korean economy remains difficult to measure, but external observers point to signs of gradual recovery after the pandemic period, driven in part by renewed trade with China and by military cooperation with Russia in the war in Ukraine.

At the same time, the congress is unfolding against the backdrop of sustained weapons development, including the recent unveiling of new rocket launchers.

Because the congress sets the country’s five-year policy line, the key question is not what is said on the first day but what themes are repeated across the final resolutions. Whether the leadership leans further into economic management, doubles down on strategic weapons or signals a diplomatic opening will shape how Pyongyang positions itself through the end of the decade.