Kim Jong Un re-elected Workers’ Party chief as North Korea touts stronger nuclear deterrence

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been unanimously re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea at a rare party congress, state media reported on Monday. The decision, taken on the fourth day of the congress, was described as reflecting the “unshakable will and unanimous desire” of all delegates, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

KCNA said the country’s “war deterrence,” centred on its nuclear forces, had been “radically improved” under Kim’s leadership, reinforcing national defence capabilities. The multi-day congress held only once every five years offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of North Korea, where political processes are typically shrouded in secrecy and tightly controlled.

The congress sets the direction of state policy, from economic planning and housing to defence and military strategy. In his opening address, Kim pledged to raise living standards and address the economic pressures facing the sanctions-hit nation, stressing the urgency of boosting economic construction and improving people’s welfare alongside strengthening national power.

While nuclear weapons and military strength have long dominated North Korea’s priorities, Kim has increasingly emphasised the need to stabilise and grow the struggling economy since taking power in 2011. At the previous party congress in 2021, he made a rare admission of policy failures across multiple sectors and signalled a new phase in the country’s nuclear weapons programme.

State media also reported that delegates voted to revise party rules to strengthen internal discipline and consolidate party ranks, reinforcing Kim’s authority. The congress only the ninth in the party’s history under decades of Kim family rule further underscores his consolidation of power and firm grip on the country’s political and security direction.