Pyongyang: Kim Jong Un has been reappointed as general secretary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party during the latest party congress in Pyongyang. The Kim Jong Un reappointment has come as little surprise, given the Kim family’s decades-long control of the country since the late 1940s.
State media has reported that under Kim Jong Un’s leadership, North Korea has strengthened its military capabilities and enhanced its war deterrence, with nuclear forces positioned at the centre of national defence strategy. The country has continued to develop its nuclear programme despite international sanctions and has regularly tested intercontinental ballistic missiles banned under United Nations resolutions.
Kim Jong Un, who assumed power in 2011 following the death of Kim Jong Il, has prioritised investment in nuclear weapons and missile technology. Analysts have noted that this approach has significantly increased tensions with the United States and regional powers, although the closed nature of the regime has made it difficult to assess the full extent of military progress.
The Workers’ Party congress, held every five years in recent cycles, has provided a rare view into North Korea’s political structure. The gathering, which began on 19 February and has included around 5,000 party members, has been seen as the most important political event in the country, setting out priorities on defence, economic policy and foreign relations.
During the congress, Kim Jong Un has been expected to outline the next phase of the weapons programme. Ahead of the meeting, North Korea unveiled what it described as nuclear-capable rocket launchers. The presidium of the party has also undergone changes, with more than half of its 39 members replaced since the last congress in 2021.
In earlier remarks, Kim Jong Un said that, the country faces heavy and urgent tasks to improve the economy and living standards. Attention has also focused on whether Kim Ju Ae, believed to be 13, will appear at the congress after South Korea’s intelligence agency suggested she may have been designated as a potential successor. The congress has continued to highlight North Korea’s priorities as leadership consolidates political control and advances strategic programmes.
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