What did Kim Jong-un ask the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea to do at its 10th congress?

Kim called on the union to act as an ideological agitator and vanguard to accelerate rural development, which he described as its primary duty. He also pledged that agricultural workers would enjoy the benefits of a highly civilized and prosperous society.

Why was the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea congress held this year?

The congress marked the union’s 80th founding anniversary and took place during the first year of implementing the policy direction set at the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Ninth Congress in February.

What role do North Korea’s party-affiliated workers’ organizations play?

Pyongyang convenes these organizations to review the implementation of party policies. The Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea is one of four major workers’ organizations in the country.

N. Korea's Kim stresses importance of agriculture, vows to improve rural life

Listen

Summary

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized agriculture and pledged to improve rural living standards during a photo session with participants in the 10th Congress of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea in Pyongyang on Monday. He praised agricultural workers for increasing grain production and called on the union to help advance rural development. The congress, held Friday and Saturday, marked the union’s 80th anniversary.

Key Facts

The congress took place in the first year of implementing the policy direction set at the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Ninth Congress in February.
Kim described promoting rural development as the union’s primary duty and urged it to serve as an ideological agitator and vanguard.
The Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea is one of North Korea’s four major workers’ organizations, alongside the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea and the Socialist Patriotic Youth League.
Pyongyang convenes party-affiliated organizations to review how party policies are being carried out.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 10, 2026 9:26 am KST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, shakes hands with participants in the 10th Congress of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea, Monday, in this photo released by Korean Central Television the next day. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has emphasized the importance of agriculture and pledged to improve living standards in rural areas, state media said Tuesday.

Kim spoke on Monday during a photo session with participants in the 10th Congress of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Ha praised the workers for boosting grain production and stressed the party "remains unshakable in its plan and decision to make the faithful agricultural workers enjoy the benefits of ideal society, highly civilized and prosperous, earlier than anyone else."

He also called on the union to "play the role of the ideological agitator and vanguard that accelerates the rural development," describing it as the union's "primary duty."

The congress, held in Pyongyang from Friday to Saturday, marked the union's 80th founding anniversary, and took place in the first year of implementing the policy direction set at the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPA) in February.

The UAWK is one of North Korea's four major workers' unions, alongside the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, the Socialist Women's Union of Korea and the Socialist Patriotic Youth League.

Pyongyang has convened these party-affiliated organizations to review how the party policies are being carried out.

Explore More