North Korea convenes 9th Party Congress, KCNA reports

FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presides over the completion ceremony of a new housing district in Pyongyang for families of troops who died in overseas military operations, state media KCNA said, in this picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, February 16, 2026. KCNA via REUTERS/ File Photo

SEOUL, Feb 20 (Reuters) - ⁠North Korean leader Kim Jong ⁠Un said the economy had overcome ‌recession and the country accomplished major economic goals over the past five years as he announced ​that the Ninth Party Congress ⁠opened on Thursday, ⁠state media KCNA reported. The congress is ⁠the ‌country's biggest political event held every five years that reviews ⁠performance, sets new policy goals and ​can bring ‌leadership change.

In an opening speech, Kim ⁠said North ​Korea had made "significant accomplishments" over the past five years in politics, economy, defence, ⁠culture and diplomacy, enhancing its ​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.

At the meeting, which a total of 5,000 members of the ruling ​Workers' Party attended, new ⁠goals and plans in various sectors for ​the next five years ‌were submitted, KCNA said ​in the report on Friday.

(Reporting by Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)