In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, attends a meeting at the headquarters of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Associated Press | By KIM TONG-HYUNG Published February 08, 2026 at 2:26pm ET SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea will convene a major political conference later this month, the country’s state media said Sunday, where leader Kim Jong Un is expected to outline his domestic and foreign policies for the next five years.

The ruling Workers’ Party congress, which Kim previously held in 2016 and 2021, comes after years of accelerated nuclear and missile development and deepening ties with Moscow over the war in Ukraine that have increased his standoffs with the United States and South Korea.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said the party’s political bureau met under Kim's supervision and decided the congress would be held in late February. State media did not immediately specify a date or release agenda details.

The congress will likely continue for days as a highly choreographed display of Kim’s authoritarian leadership. In recent weeks, Kim has inspected weapons tests and toured military sites and economic projects as state media highlighted his purported achievements, crediting his “immortal leadership” with strengthening the country’s military capabilities and advancing national development.

His recent activities and comments suggest Kim will use the congress to double down on economic development through “self-sustenance” and mass mobilization while announcing plans to further expand the capabilities of his nuclear-armed military, including upgrading conventional weapons systems and integrating them with nuclear forces.

Kim also could highlight his increasingly assertive foreign policy based on closer ties with Moscow and Beijing while hardening an adversarial approach toward rival South Korea as he continues to embrace the idea of a “new Cold War,” experts say.

Kim's willingness to resume diplomacy with the U.S. is unclear. Relations derailed in 2019 after his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump due to disagreements over sanctions against his nuclear weapons program.

Kim has rejected Trump’s overtures for dialogue since the U.S. president began his second term in January 2025. Kim insists Washington abandon demands for the North to surrender its nuclear weapons as a precondition for future talks.

Entering his 15th year in rule, Kim finds himself in a stronger position than when he opened the previous congress in 2021 during the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. Navigating what was seen as his toughest stretch in a decade of power, Kim acknowledged his previous economic policies failed and issued a new five-year development plan through 2025.

He called for accelerated development of his nuclear arsenal and issued an extensive wish list of sophisticated assets including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, multi-warhead systems, tactical nuclear weapons, spy satellites and nuclear-powered submarines.

Kim has exploited geopolitical turmoil to his advantage. He used Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a window to accelerate weapons testing and align himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has accepted thousands of North Korean troops and large quantities of military equipment for the war.

Kim also has pursued closer ties with China, traditionally the North’s primary ally and economic lifeline. He traveled to Beijing in September for a World War II event and the first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.

While Kim’s strict information blockade prevents precise assessments, South Korean analysts say the North's economy appears to have improved over the past five years, possibly due to a gradual recovery in trade with China and an industrial boost from arms exports to Russia.

Vance Is in Armenia, a Country No Sitting US President or Vice President Has Visited Before Vice President JD Vance is in Armenia, a country that no sitting U.S. vice president or president has visited before.

US Military Boards Sanctioned Oil Tanker in the Indian Ocean After Pursuit From the Caribbean The U.S. military says it has boarded a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean.

Military Might: Several US Military Members Compete in 2026 Winter Olympics Eight U.S. military athletes are representing the county at the overseas games, bringing with them a world of experience in…

At 100, WWII Veteran Celebrates a Life of Service Aboard Battleship New Jersey Aboard the Battleship New Jersey, surrounded by friends, family and the ship’s important legacy, John “Johnny Q” Quinesso Sr…

New York Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Will Finally Receive Medal of Honor Advocates pushed for years for Michael Ollis to receive the nation's highest honor. On Tuesday, their dream became a reality.

Hundreds Turn Out to Honor Navy Veteran Who Would Have Been Buried Alone Hundreds of strangers filled a Pennsylvania church to ensure a U.S. Navy veteran who died without family received the send…

Why Some Disabled Veterans Can't Get Both VA Disability and Military Retirement Pay Military service members planning medical retirement face a critical decision point at the 20-year mark.

How a Wounded Pigeon Named Cher Ami Saved the Lost Battalion in WWI A wounded pigeon named Cher Ami helped save a battalion of American soldiers, becoming one of the most recognized animals in…

This 20-Year-Old Sacrificed His Life and Became the First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipient Every February, Black History Month shines a light on Americans whose contributions shaped the nation. One belongs to Pfc…

Vance Is in Armenia, a Country No Sitting US President or Vice President Has Visited Before Vice President JD Vance is in Armenia, a country that no sitting U.S. vice president or president has visited before.

US Military Boards Sanctioned Oil Tanker in the Indian Ocean After Pursuit From the Caribbean The U.S. military says it has boarded a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean.

At 100, WWII Veteran Celebrates a Life of Service Aboard Battleship New Jersey Aboard the Battleship New Jersey, surrounded by friends, family and the ship’s important legacy, John “Johnny Q” Quinesso Sr…

Gaza's Rafah Crossing Opens After 2-Day Closure as Palestinians Claim Delays and Mistreatment A limited number of Palestinians traveled between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday as the Rafah crossing reopened after a two-day…

Kim Expected to Issue Major Policy Goals at North Korea Party Congress in Late February Kim's willingness to resume diplomacy with the U.S. is unclear.

Visit our Customer Support center for solutions or to contact us.