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North Korea’s authoritarian leadership will convene its Workers’ Party Congress at the end of February 2026, which will possibly have a multilayered impact on the country’s endeavours over the next five years. This potentially includes effects on the East Asian state’s economy, military, and the human rights status of nationals.
Photo source: Mike Bravo, via Unsplash, October 3rd, 2020.
13-02-2026 | Dominik Miklósi | Asia Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
Towards the end of February 2026, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (hereinafter North Korea) will hold a major political conference, namely the Ninth Workers’ Party Congress, led by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The state media of the East Asian country announced the event that takes place every five years on February 8th, 2026, without detailing an exact date. It is anticipated that important national and foreign policies will be presented at the conference, aimed at shaping North Korea’s strategic agenda for the upcoming years.
In the human rights dimension, North Korea is perceived as one of the most repressive states around the globe. The dictatorial leadership of the country subjects its nationals to executions, arbitrary detentions, forced labour, and numerous other serious infringements of fundamental freedoms. These deeply abusive, coercive, and oppressive practices are rooted in the constitutional and policy framework of North Korea. Therefore, the Workers’ Party Congress of this year may play an instrumental role in the context of human rights, since major policy goals are expected to be issued and plans for attaining them. The outlined initiatives, especially the domestic ones, will likely have a substantial impact on the day-to-day lives of citizens, profoundly affecting the enjoyment of their rights.
The event is anticipated to last for multiple days under Kim’s supervision in the capital, Pyongyang. Important topics that are expected to be discussed include endeavours to increase the capacity of North Korea’s nuclear-armed military via the development of conventional armaments by incorporating nuclear forces into them. Furthermore, it is likely that economic improvements will be discussed as well during the conference, with an emphasis on intensified self-sustenance. Lastly, being committed to upholding the vision of a “new Cold War”, it is possible that Kim will mention the state’s adversarial approach regarding the future of its neighbour, South Korea.
