North Korea's Party Congress Final Preparations Underway
State-run outlet Rodong Sinmun disclosed Wednesday that a delegate certificate ceremony took place Monday at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, a traditional and symbolically charged venue that houses the preserved remains of state founder Kim Il-sung and former leader Kim Jong-il. Officials attending the ceremony paid tribute to both figures, describing the upcoming congress as a "major turning point" that will chart new national objectives built on prior accomplishments.
Participants pledged to advance the congress's goals under the leadership of current North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, underscoring the regime's emphasis on continuity and loyalty ahead of the high-stakes meeting. Rodong Sinmun also highlighted a Feb. 16 visit by senior officials to Kumsusan Palace marking Kim Jong-il's birthday, during which flower baskets were laid in Kim Jong Un's name and on behalf of key state institutions — a gesture analysts view as a deliberate show of internal unity in the run-up to the congress.
Historical precedent strongly supports expectations of an imminent opening. North Korea traditionally issues delegate credentials in the final days before a congress convenes — certificates for the 8th Congress were distributed Dec. 30, 2020, just six days before its Jan. 5, 2021 launch, while the 7th Congress in 2016 saw credentials handed out on May 4, with proceedings beginning May 6. The issuance of certificates this week mirrors that well-established pattern precisely.
The 9th Congress was formally announced for late February at a recent Politburo meeting. Party congresses, convened roughly every five years, serve as the regime's primary mechanism for codifying national strategy and reaffirming leadership hierarchies, according to the news agency.
The upcoming session — the first since 2021 — arrives at a particularly charged moment. Observers will be watching closely for signals on economic policy amid persistent domestic strain, shifts in military doctrine, and Pyongyang's posture within a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. Possible leadership reshuffles and revised security directives are also under scrutiny as the reclusive state prepares to lay out its roadmap for the years ahead.
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