North Korea’s Kim opens 9th Party Congress citing economic achievements

By Heejin Kim and Joyce Lee

SEOUL, Feb 20 (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his reclusive country had overcome stagnation and accomplished major economic goals over the past five years, as he opened the Ninth Party Congress, state media KCNA reported on Friday.

The congress, which opened on Thursday, is the country’s biggest political event. Held every five years, it can bring changes in leadership roles beneath supreme commander Kim. 

In his opening speech, Kim said the last five years had been “a proud period”, citing North Korea’s accomplishments in politics, economy, defence, culture and diplomacy, in addition to enhancing self-reliance.

For the outside world, North Korea has brought a “big change” in relations with other countries and the global geopolitical landscape, he said.

Kim did not mention relations with the United States or South Korea in his speech, nor refer to his country’s efforts to develop a stockpile of nuclear weapons.

At the meeting, attended by 5,000 members of the ruling Workers’ Party, new goals and plans in various sectors for the next five years were submitted, KCNA reported.

North Korea is expected to showcase military capabilities at a parade and weapons development goals as part of the meeting.

FOCUS ON DAUGHTER JU AE

Analysts are monitoring whether Kim will be given the title of “president” and if his teenage daughter, Ju Ae, makes an appearance or receives some form of official post.

There has been increasing speculation among analysts and from South Korea’s spy agency that Kim is grooming Ju Ae to succeed him.

When the previous Eighth Congress was convened, the circumstances surrounding North Korea were “literally so harsh that we could hardly maintain our own existence”, Kim said. The country’s economy and industries were antiquated, he added. 

North Korea’s economy suffered its biggest contraction in 23 years in 2020 as it was battered by continued U.N. sanctions, COVID-19 lockdown measures and bad weather, South Korea’s central bank has said.

But more recently there have been signs of recovery and the economy grew 3.7% in 2024, the fastest annual pace in eight years, backed by expanded economic ties with Russia, according to Bank of Korea estimates. 

“Everything has changed fundamentally for the past five years,” Kim said.

In a speech that focused mostly on economic development and promoting party leadership, Kim said the country was “faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks of boosting economic construction and the people’s standard of living.”

Earlier this week, Kim marked the completion of 10,000 new houses in Pyongyang, achieving the goal of building 50,000 homes set during the Eighth Congress.

Kim also said, however, the country should “review shortcomings” in development, without providing details.

MILITARY PARADE 

It is unclear how long the gathering will run, but the Seventh Congress lasted four days and the Eighth Congress ran for eight days.

Satellite images showed thousands of North Koreans spelling out the slogan ‘Ninth Party Congress’ in large Korean characters in central Pyongyang last week, NK News reported, citing it as possible evidence of plans for a military parade.

Kim may have toned down his speech to avoid international or military issues, said Jeong Eun-mee, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-run think tank. 

“He appears to be refraining from making public comments about sensitive issues,” she said, especially ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China in April. 

Kang Dong-wan, a political science professor at Dong-A University in Busan, said Kim may revise rules to formalise the “hostile two states” rhetoric guiding policy toward South Korea. 

(Reporting by Heejin Kim; Editing by Ed Davies, Lincoln Feast and Stephen Coates)