North Korea’s Kim signals party congress will focus on ‘exceptional’ military build-up

The five-year defence plan will be aimed at bolstering North Korea’s strategic and tactical nuclear capabilities, analysts say

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reviews a guard of honour as he visits the Ministry of National Defence in Pyongyang on Sunday. Photo: KCNA/AFP

Published: 8:00am, 10 Feb 2026Updated: 4:38pm, 10 Feb 2026

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has signalled that his country’s armed forces will play an even more “outstanding” role over the next five years – an indication that the coming party congress will map out a new defence build-up, including advances in nuclear and missile capabilities, analysts say.

“The next five years will be a period when our army’s exceptional role, which no one can replace, rises even higher,” Kim said on Sunday during a visit to the Ministry of National Defence marking the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Kim’s statement has been widely interpreted as a signal that a new five-year plan for national defence will be presented at the ninth congress of the ruling Workers’ Party.

North Korea announced last week that the party congress would be held in the second half of this month. Observers expect it to take place after February 16, the birthday of Kim’s late father and former leader Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-un at the Ministry of National Defence on Sunday. Photo: KCNA/AFP

Last month, Kim Jong-un said he would use the party congress to outline plans for strengthening the country’s nuclear war deterrence capabilities.

At the last congress in 2021, North Korea unveiled an ambitious agenda for weapons development, including military reconnaissance satellites, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and a nuclear-powered submarine.

North Korea’s Kim signals party congress will focus on ‘exceptional’ military build-up

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The five-year defence plan will be aimed at bolstering North Korea’s strategic and tactical nuclear capabilities, analysts say

The five-year defence plan will be aimed at bolstering North Korea’s strategic and tactical nuclear capabilities, analysts say