Overview
- Kim Jong Un was re-elected as general secretary on the fourth day of the Ninth Workers’ Party Congress, with KCNA crediting major gains in nuclear-centered war deterrence.
- The congress approved revisions to party rules and elected a new Central Committee, though state outlets withheld details of the rule changes.
- The new roster omitted several veteran figures, including Choe Ryong-hae, signaling a generational reshuffle in top party ranks.
- Kim Yo Jong was promoted to alternate member of the Political Bureau and listed among newly appointed department directors, a move Seoul is monitoring for implications on external affairs.
- Kim’s closing message prioritized stabilizing and consolidating the economy, and South Korea noted Pyongyang kept foreign messaging minimal with no disclosed operational details on the next nuclear phase.