North Korea’s Kim says country to develop economy over next 5 years

PYONGYANG – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to solidify and develop the quality of the country’s economy over the next five years, state media outlet KCNA said on Feb 24, during a speech at a party congress where his high-profile sister was promoted.

North Korea on Feb 23 held the fifth day of the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, which sets out major policy goals for the nuclear-armed Asian nation for the next five years.

Members of the congress started to map out plans and goals by sectors, including military, foreign policy, industry and agriculture, KCNA said.

Calling the next five years a “full-scale progress phase” in his speech on Feb 23, Mr Kim called for revolutionising thought, technology and culture so new projects will be well managed over time, KCNA said.

Mr Kim also warned that “dereliction of duty, irresponsibility and other ingrained maladies of seeking only immediate gains” will be rooted out, it said.

So far, North Korea has not released any specific messages on its foreign policy, such as those concerning its sworn enemies the US and South Korea, opting to focus on internal economic progress.

While Mr Kim has shunned efforts by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to improve ties and has not accepted overtures by US President Donald Trump to resume talks, he has appeared to focus on ties with traditional allies, including Russia and China.

The North Korean leader travelled by armoured train to Beijing in September 2025 to attend a massive military parade where

he stood shoulder to shoulder with Chinese President Xi Jinping

and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Xi sent a message to Mr Kim this week to congratulate him on his re-election as general secretary of the ruling party, KCNA confirmed.

Ms Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Mr Kim,

was given a promotion

.

According to KCNA, she was named a party department director. Previously, she was vice-director.

She was also reinstated as an “alternate” member of the Politburo of the ruling party’s Central Committee, following her demotion in 2021.

So far, there has been no new indication that Mr Kim’s teenage daughter, known as Ju Ae, has been involved in the congress.

There has been growing speculation among analysts and by South Korea’s spy agency that she is being groomed to succeed her father as leader in what would be a fourth generation of Kim family leaders since North Korea was founded by Kim Il Sung in 1948.

It is unclear how long the current congress proceedings will last.

The previous two iterations ran for four and eight days, respectively.

Satellite images earlier in February showed an apparent practice for a military parade to accompany the congress, media reported.

Analysts said North Korea could unveil nuclear and conventional weapons during the parade to show off the military capabilities it has built during the past five-year period. REUTERS