North Korea Announces Rare Party Congress to Outline Five-Year Military Strategy

2026-02-08 global

Pyongyang, Sunday, 8 February 2026.
Breaking a five-year hiatus, Kim Jong Un will convene a critical congress this month, likely declaring his nuclear arsenal has reached peak operational capability while cementing alliances with Moscow.

Strategic Pivot in Pyongyang

North Korean state media confirmed on Sunday that the ruling Workers’ Party will convene its Ninth Congress in late February 2026, marking a significant moment for the regime to recalibrate its long-term strategy [3][4]. The decision to hold this major political conference—the party’s supreme organ—was formalized on Saturday, February 7, during a Politburo meeting chaired by leader Kim Jong Un [7][8]. This upcoming gathering breaks a 5 year hiatus, representing only the fourth such congress in 45 years [3]. Observers note that preparations are already underway to invite delegates from friendly nations, suggesting Pyongyang intends to use this stage to broadcast a solidified diplomatic stance alongside its military agenda [5].

Accelerating Nuclear Ambitions

The congress is expected to serve as the launchpad for Kim’s policy objectives for the next five years, with a primary focus on maximizing the country’s nuclear operational prowess [1][6]. Following a ballistic missile test on January 27, 2026, which Kim inspected personally, the regime has signaled that “next-stage plans” for bolstering its nuclear deterrent will be clarified at this month’s assembly [6][7]. Analysts predict Kim will declare that the North’s nuclear capabilities have reached their peak, shifting focus toward the deployment of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), multi-warhead systems, and nuclear-powered submarines [1][6]. This aggressive military posture aims to integrate conventional weapons with nuclear forces, creating a more cohesive and threatening deterrent [2].

Geopolitical Realignment

Diplomatically, the congress is likely to cement North Korea’s pivot away from the United States and toward a “new Cold War” axis with Russia and China [7]. despite the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency in January 2025, Kim has firmly rejected dialogue overtures, a stark contrast to the engagement attempts seen prior to the derailed 2019 summit [1][6]. Instead, Pyongyang has deepened ties with Moscow—evidenced by a 2024 mutual defense treaty and the provision of troops for the war in Ukraine—and reinforced its alliance with Beijing during a summit with Xi Jinping in September 2025 [1][6]. This strategic realignment suggests the upcoming policy announcements will prioritize hardening the adversarial approach toward South Korea and the U.S. while fostering economic and military dependence on its autocratic neighbors [2][7].

Domestic Consolidation

As Kim Jong Un enters his 15th year of rule, the congress will also address the regime’s internal stability and economic trajectory [1][2]. The gathering will review the outcomes of the five-year development plan issued in 2021, which was launched after Kim acknowledged the failure of previous economic policies [1][6]. With the regime doubling down on “self-sustenance” and mass mobilization, the congress effectively presents a governance blueprint for the latter half of the decade [4][7]. The event may also serve as a stage for elite personnel changes and further elevation of Kim’s daughter, Ju Ae, who has increasingly accompanied her father to military inspections, fueling speculation regarding succession planning [6].

Sources

Geopolitics Asia-Pacific