Pyongyang: North Korea’s ruling party has convened its top congress, which meets once every five years, state media reported Friday. The ninth congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) opened Thursday in Pyongyang, considered the capital of the ‘Korean revolution,’ Korea Central News Agency reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, the congress, led by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is being attended by about 5,000 party delegates and typically spans several days. As the country’s highest decision-making body, the congress sets five-year policy directions, reviewing key decisions on the economy, defense, diplomacy, and major personnel appointments. The previous congress was held in 2021.

In his opening address, Kim Jong Un described the five years since the eighth WPK congress as a ‘proud period’ in the nation’s history, during which the country achieved significant successes despite facing trials and difficulties. Observers are closely monitoring the outcome of the congress amid developments in inter-Korean relations, North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, and any potential diplomatic engagement with the US.

Kim noted the harsh conditions under which the eighth party congress was convened, citing increased hostilities, harsh blockades, sanctions, natural disasters, and the global public health crisis like COVID-19, which severely hindered the nation’s development and threatened state security and public safety.

Kim emphasized the urgent tasks faced by the WPK, including boosting economic construction, improving the people’s standard of living, and transforming all realms of state and social life. He called for a more active and persistent struggle, highlighting a new long-term regional development plan.