(C) The Hill

PYONGYANG – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un opened the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on February 19, 2026, radiating a level of confidence unseen in half a decade. Marking a stark departure from the "bitter failure" he conceded during the previous congress, Kim declared that the nation has entered a "period of great transition" toward becoming a global socialist powerhouse by 2035.

The opening of the multi-day political event at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang was broadcast by the North's state-run Korean Central Television on Friday. The atmosphere, described as celebratory and "optimistic," signals a regime that believes it has successfully weathered international sanctions, natural disasters, and the global health crisis.

From "Abject Failure" to "Unprecedented Success"
Five years ago, during the 8th Party Congress, Kim Jong-un made headlines for his rare and blunt admission that the nation's five-year economic plan had failed "tremendously" in almost every sector. Today, that tone of contrition has been replaced by self-congratulation.

"There has never been a time when we achieved such great results while overcoming such arduous environments," Kim stated during his opening address, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He emphasized that the country has achieved "irreversible" status on the global stage, effectively claiming that North Korea's standing as a nuclear-armed state is now an undisputed reality.

Analysts suggest this shift is rooted in the strategic "backwind" provided by Russia. By leveraging the geopolitical shifts caused by the conflict in Ukraine, North Korea has secured vital resources, capital, and military modernization support that have breathed new life into its stagnant economy.

The "Russia Factor" and the 2035 Vision
The 9th Congress serves as the launchpad for the second phase of Kim’s 15-year blueprint to realize a "Strong Socialist Country" by 2035. Having declared the first five-year phase a success, Kim is expected to announce a more aggressive push for "self-reliance" (Juche) and the simultaneous development of nuclear and conventional military forces.

A significant highlight of the opening was the explicit support from Moscow. For the first time, Dmitry Medvedev, chairman of Russia’s ruling United Russia party, sent a formal congratulatory message to the WPK Congress. This gesture underscores the deepening "blood alliance" between the two nations, which accelerated following North Korea's decision to provide military support to Russia in 2024.

"This is a different landscape from when the North only focused on regime survival through nuclear weapons," said Doo Jin-ho, head of the Eurasia Research Center at the Korea Institute for National Strategic Strategy. "Kim is now expressing confidence in his strategic competition against South Korea and the West within a regional context."

A Shift in Political Iconography
The aesthetic of the congress also reflected the ongoing consolidation of Kim Jong-un’s "monolithic" leadership. Following the trend set in 2021, the portraits of his predecessors, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, were absent from the main hall, replaced by the emblem of the Workers' Party. This move is widely interpreted as Kim’s effort to step out from the shadows of his father and grandfather and establish his own distinct ideological legacy.

While the opening speech did not contain specific messages directed at Seoul or Washington, experts expect these to emerge during the comprehensive "Work Summary Report" over the coming days. Given the current trajectory, observers anticipate a hardline stance, emphasizing military deterrence and economic insulation from Western influence.

As Pyongyang enters this self-proclaimed "Leap Forward" phase, the international community remains wary. With Russia’s backing and a renewed sense of economic stability, Kim Jong-un appears more committed than ever to his path of defiance, setting the stage for a prolonged period of tension on the Korean Peninsula.

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