<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/north-korea" rel="" target="" title="North Korea"><span>North Korea</span></a><span> will convene a major political conference later this month, the country’s state media said on Sunday, where leader </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/kim-jong-un" rel="" target="" title=" Kim Jong Un"><span>Kim Jong Un</span></a><span> is expected to outline his domestic and foreign policies for the next five years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/possible-coalition-reunion-expected-today-after-meeting-between-liberals-and-nationals/19093271-1d14-4542-958c-257c8f41852f"><strong><span>Coalition confirms it has reunited following bitter split over hate speech laws</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>State media did not immediately specify a date or release agenda details.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The congress will likely continue for days as a highly choreographed display of Kim’s authoritarian leadership.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In recent weeks, Kim has </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/north-korea-displays-apparent-progress-in-construction-of-nuclearpowered-submarine/c985132a-7b09-4d63-9ba5-e279cf478735" rel="" target="" title=" inspected weapons tests and toured military sites "><span>inspected weapons tests and toured military sites</span></a><span> 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.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/kim-jong-un-north-korea-party-congress/70518244-330d-486d-a780-a01cca266684" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-mitchell-to-intensify-to-category-3-storm-ahead-of-landfall/d71a616f-c028-442f-8117-63bde494c3fe"><strong><span>Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell forecast to make landfall as residents sleep</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/02/07/15/01/today-in-history-february-8-what-happened-on-this-day"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/ojnhyTKTnogRWsm5n42En0sJT_A=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F1651d307-4826-4c0f-a549-e85b9e404762" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/ojnhyTKTnogRWsm5n42En0sJT_A=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F1651d307-4826-4c0f-a549-e85b9e404762 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/6G3MC5qv5q8Ced2doPpQ8jFqs7g=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F1651d307-4826-4c0f-a549-e85b9e404762 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Crowd gasps as Julie Andrews takes revenge in acceptance speech</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/02/07/15/01/today-in-history-february-8-what-happened-on-this-day">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His recent activities and comments suggest Kim will use the congress to double down on economic development through “self-sustenance” and mass mobilisation while announcing plans to further expand the capabilities of his nuclear-armed military, including upgrading conventional weapons systems and integrating them with nuclear forces.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kim's willingness to resume diplomacy with the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="US "><span>US</span></a><span> is unclear.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israel-says-netanyahu-will-meet-with-trump-on-wednesday-about-iran-talks/70fc1a83-eb56-40b0-81e5-3e132b75f48a"><strong><span>Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump this week about Iran talks</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/road-closures-planned-pro-palestine-rally-ahead-of-israeli-president-isaac-herzog-visit-to-sydney/2c556b55-d43a-47db-8806-f342810e341f"><strong><span>Massive preparations begin in Sydney ahead of Israeli president's visit</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Relations derailed in 2019 after his second summit with US President Donald Trump due to disagreements over sanctions against his nuclear weapons program.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kim has rejected Trump’s overtures for dialogue since the US president began his second term in January 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kim insists Washington abandon demands for the North to surrender its nuclear weapons as a precondition for future talks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/savannah-guthrie-video-message-nancy-guthrie-kidnappers-usa/f1e0e952-0fee-4285-b872-785722159046"><strong><span>US TV anchor willing to pay ransom for safe return of mother</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kim has exploited geopolitical turmoil to his advantage. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-south-wales-illegal-ebikes-to-be-seized-and-crushed-in-latest-crackdown/0c04d664-e3ab-4bf0-a19f-6b0c494e6549"><strong><span>Illegal e-bikes to be seized and crushed by police in tough crackdown</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kim also has pursued closer ties with China, traditionally the North’s primary ally and economic lifeline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He travelled to Beijing in September for a World War II event and the first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div>