Kim Jong Un touts economic gains as North Korea opens Ninth Party Congress

Kim Jong Un opened the Ninth Party Congress in North Korea KP today, February 19, 2026, marking the start of the country's largest political event held every five years. The congress, which is currently ongoing, is attended by approximately 5,000 members of the ruling Workers Party and serves as a formal platform to review past state performance while establishing new multi-year policy and leadership goals. The timing and scale of the congress make its outcomes materially relevant to both domestic policy and international geopolitical relations as the leadership sets its multi-year agenda.

According to reports from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Ninth Party Congress is expected to shape the domestic economic direction of the North Korean government. Key internal programs, such as the Pyongyang housing construction program, are among the priorities under review, with references to the Bank of Korea's assessments also featuring in the context of the state's economic goals. This assembly is a critical period for the leadership to consolidate its internal strategy and communicate its long-term vision to the domestic population.