Skip to main content
institutional access

You are connecting from
Lake Geneva Public Library,
please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.

Published loading...Updated

North Korea opens key party congress as Kim touts ‘radical successes’

  • On February 19, 2026, Kim Jong Un, North Korean leader, opened the Workers' Party of Korea congress in Pyongyang, addressing about 5,000 delegates including 224 central leadership.
  • A weekslong buildup preceded the meeting, during which Kim toured industrial and housing projects to showcase alleged achievements and the party framed urgent tasks to boost economic construction and raise living standards.
  • Analysts note Kim will press for military expansion by outlining plans to expand nuclear-armed forces and conventional systems under a five-year plan, with recent tests of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and the country's first military satellite .
  • The congress is expected to consolidate Kim's authoritarian grip and serve as the Pyongyang stage to unveil key objectives before thousands of ruling party delegates, while South Korea's spy agency warns it could position Kim Ju Ae, believed to be about 13, as a potential successor.
  • Looking beyond Pyongyang, Kim's ties with Russia and China have strengthened, with analysts estimate roughly 10% economic growth over five years due to trade and arms exports.
Insights by Ground AI

57 Articles

Lean Right

DECRYPTAGE - The North Korean supreme leader highlights his alliance with Vladimir Putin on the eve of a Party Congress that could designate his daughter Ju-ae as a successor to the dynasty.

·Paris, France
Read Full Article
Lean Right

Satellite images showed weeks ago that a parade was being rehearsed, stages were being built and banners were being hung.

·Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Read Full Article
Lean Right

Kim Jong-un, in contrast to his admission of economic failure five years ago, boasted of his achievements at the party congress. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised the economic achievements of the past five years and mentioned a new leap forward at the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, which opened on the 19th. According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 20th, Chairman Kim praised the economic achievements of t…

Newsbug.infoNewsbug.info
+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
Center

Kim Jong Un vows to boost living standards as he opens rare congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to lift living standards as he opened a landmark congress, state media said Friday, offering a glimpse of economic strains within the sanctions-hit nation.

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

The Star Kuala Lumpur broke the news in Malaysia on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal