The Workers' Party Congress, a crucial event for determining national policy in North Korea, opened on the 19th in the capital, Pyongyang, marking the first such meeting in five years since January 2021. Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary, delivered a speech at the opening, highlighting the arduous environment the country has faced over the past five years and praising significant achievements in the nation's economic sector. He emphasized that there has been a fundamental change since the last congress, expressing optimism about future economic plans that may be presented during this week-long event.

Kim reflected on past economic policies, acknowledging failures during the previous congress, but stated that the country has fundamentally transformed since then, claiming that a five-year economic plan has essentially been completed with significant progress in various fields. This assertion of success points toward a potentially positive economic outlook for the country; however, he did not address nuclear and missile development or relations with the US and South Korea during his opening comments, which may signal a focus on domestic economic issues.

The agenda for the congress reportedly includes discussions on amending the party regulations. Kim categorizes South Korea as an 'hostile state,' which could mean this adversarial stance might be formally integrated within the party's foundational principles. As the congress unfolds, further insights into North Korea's strategic direction regarding domestic policy and inter-Korean relations are anticipated, as well as their approach to international diplomacy amidst ongoing tensions.