On February 20, 2026, North Korea's Workers' Party convened for its Ninth Congress, a significant political event held every five years. In his opening speech, leader Kim Jong Un emphasized the need for economic revitalization and military enhancement, stating, "Today, our Party is faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks of boosting economic construction and the people’s standard of living." Analysts now suggest that the reclusive regime is in its strongest geopolitical and economic position in years, which may influence the congress's agenda towards a more assertive stance on both domestic and foreign policy (Financial Times). The congress is expected to outline plans for bolstering North Korea's nuclear arsenal, reflecting a shift towards a more optimistic outlook after overcoming what Kim described as the "worst difficulties" since the last congress in 2021 (The Frontier Post, Al Jazeera).