N. Korea may reinstate 'president' title for leader Kim: 38 NorthNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un may inherit the title of president, used by late state founder Kim Il-sung, at a parliamentary meeting following the upcoming key party congress, according to a U.S. website that monitors the North. 38 North assessed the possibility that North Korea may reinstate the "DPRK president" title for the incumbent leader on the occasion of the ninth party congress and its subsequent meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly, according to a report published on Tuesday (local time). DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The report focused on how North Korea has referred to Kim Jong-un as the "head of state" since September 2024, noting that this could imply a shift in the regime's structural system. The title of "the DPRK president" was used by Kim Il-sung, the late grandfather of Kim Jong-un, from 1972 until his death in 1994. An article of the 1972 constitution stipulates that "The DPRK president is the head of state and represents the national sovereignty of the DPRK." In 1998, North Korea revised the constiFeb 4, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea ramps up implementation of regional development policy in 3rd year of projectNorth Korea has been accelerating the implementation of leader Kim Jong-un's signature regional development policy in the third year of the construction project as it broke ground for building regional facilities earlier this week, state media reported Wednesday. In 2024, Kim unveiled a policy to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties each year over a 10-year period to improve the living conditions of people in regional areas. North Korea held the groundbreaking ceremonies for regional construction projects in the Sinuiju Greenhouse Complex, Kangnam County and Maengsan County the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The KCNA said modern factories and public health, as well as welfare service facilities, will be "simultaneously" erected in 20 regions this year, noting "marked progress" has been made across all aspects of the people's material and cultural life. Last month, the North's leader attended the groundbreaking ceremony for this year's first construction project in Unnyul County in South Hwanghae Province, saying his policy will transform oneFeb 4, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korean soldiers practicing potential military parade ahead of party congress: reportHundreds of North Korean soldiers were seen practicing marching formations at a training field in Pyongyang in what appeared to be drills for a military parade marking the upcoming party congress, according to a report. 38 North, a U.S. website monitoring North Korea, published the report Monday (U.S. time), citing commercial satellite imagery taken the same day at Mirim Airfield in eastern Pyongyang. The imagery showed several troop formations on the airfield, including one in the shape of a hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush, the emblem of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). "These preparatory drills are likely for a parade to mark the upcoming Ninth Party Congress," 38 North said. Mirim Airfield is where North Korean troops practice whenever the country prepares a military parade for a key event. The satellite imagery suggests the North may stage a military parade to mark its upcoming ninth congress of the WPK. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it has detected signs of parade preparations at venues such as the Mirim Airfield and the Kim Il Sung Square where similarFeb 3, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim calls for 'epochal progress' in rural areas ahead of key party congressNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for an "epochal progress" in the development of rural areas, the North's state media reported Tuesday, as Pyongyang appeared to gear up for a key ruling party congress. Kim made the remarks as he attended the inauguration ceremony for a new dairy farm in the North's western region, with the party congress, once in five years, likely to take place this month, although no date has been announced yet. While inspecting the dairy farm, Kim said, "More epochal progress will be made in the implementation of the party's program for the rural revolution in the new era and policy of regional development," according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim stressed the country's rural revolution policy aimed at developing the specialty of the stockbreeding industry as he attended the inauguration ceremony of the Samgwang Stockbreeding Farm in Unjon, North Phyongan Province, the previous day, the KCNA reported. The KCNA said the ruling party instructed the construction of a modern dairy farm years ago as part of its goal to help improve people'Feb 3, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea inaugurates greenhouse farm in Sinuiju ahead of key party congressNorth Korea has inaugurated a major greenhouse farm in Sinuiju, a northwestern city hit hard by flooding in 2024, with leader Kim Jong-un calling it a "wonderful achievement" ahead of the country's upcoming party congress, according to state media Monday. Kim attended the ceremony inaugurating the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It took place around one year after the groundbreaking ceremony was held in February 2025. North Korea has prioritized building a large greenhouse farm in vast areas of Wihwa Island, an islet in Sinuiju where the North suffered flood damage during summer in 2024. In a speech, the North's leader expressed satisfaction that the project has become a "base" for new life for the residents of Sinuiju, who have suffered from flooding generation after generation. "Our soldiers and young people have made a wonderful achievement of creation to be presented to the Ninth Party Congress," Kim said, referring to the upcoming key once-every-five-years event. North Korea is widely expected to hold the ninth paFeb 2, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's premier highlights leader Kim's regional development drive as top priorityNorth Korean Premier Pak Thae-song has highlighted the regional development initiative being pushed for by leader Kim Jong-un as the state's top priority, calling on officials to devote themselves to the plans, its state media reported Sunday. Pak made the remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony of a construction project in Pyongwon County, South Phyongan Province, the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. In a speech at the event, Pak described the "Regional Development 20X10 Policy" as the highest priority for the party and the state, urging officials to commit themselves to implementing the policy, the KCNA reported. The state media also quoted Pak as calling for "patriotic strength and enthusiasm" to make this year "a new year of victory for the regional revolution." Since 2024, North Korea has been pushing for regional development aimed at building modern industrial plants in 20 cities and counties every year, seeking to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas in the next 10 years. Last week, Kim attended a groundbreaking event for a construction projectFeb 1, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim attends ceremony for this year's 1st regional development projectNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a construction project, the first this year under his regional development drive, saying his policy will transform one-third of the country, state media said Friday. Kim attended the ceremony the previous day to mark the start of a regional development construction project in Unnyul County in South Hwanghae Province, and dug the first spadeful of earth, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, announcing the first regional construction campaign for 2026. Kim began his signature regional development policy in 2024, pledging to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties across the country every year for a 10-year period, in a bid to improve living standards for the people. "This is the third year for implementing the regional development policy, and public health facilities and leisure complexes, together with regional-industry factories, will be built in 20 regions of the country including this Unnyul County," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying at the ceremony. "This means that nearly one-third of the citiesJan 30, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korean ruling party's central committee elects delegates to upcoming congressThe central committee of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) has elected its delegates for the party's upcoming congress, state media reported Friday, signaling that the key event is near. The party held a conference of the headquarters of the party's Central Committee on Wednesday and elected delegates to be sent to the ninth party congress, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The election of central committee delegates typically indicates that working-level preparations for a party congress are in the final stage, a sign that the party congress is likely to take place soon. Last week, North Korea said its city and county party committees had elected representatives to a meeting of lower-level provincial organizations as part of preliminary congress preparations. Given typical procedures leading up to a party congress, North Korea is expected to convene a meeting of the WPK's politburo to set the date of the impending congress after electing final delegates at meetings of province-level party representatives. South Korea's intelligence agency and government have prJan 30, 2026By Yonhap
Unification ministry says DMZ access bills do not conflict with armisticeThe unification ministry said Thursday pending bills granting the South Korean government control of non-military access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) do not conflict with the armistice as the bills require advance consultation with the United Nations Command (UNC). The ministry's stance came a day after the UNC voiced strong opposition to the bills, calling them "completely at odds" with the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. "The ongoing parliamentary discussion on DMZ-related bills requires advance consultations with the UNC for approval of DMZ access, and therefore does not conflict with the armistice at all," the unification ministry said in a notice to the press. The ministry said it will continue to cooperate on the DMZ access bills, in respect of the National Assembly's legislative rights. The ministry has thrown its support behind the bills, proposed by ruling party lawmakers, aiming to give the government the authority to regulate non-military access to the DMZ, as part of efforts to promote the peaceful use of the military buffer zone separating the two KJan 29, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea assesses last year's agricultural output as 'proud outcome' ahead of party congressNorth Korea has held a Cabinet meeting to assess last year's agricultural output and resolve to meet this year's production target, the North's main newspaper said Thursday, as the country is preparing for a key party congress. The 2025 agriculture assessment meeting was held virtually from Tuesday to Wednesday and overseen by Premier Pak Thae-song, party secretary Jo Yong-won and Vice Premier Ri Chol-man, who also serves as chair of the agricultural committee, according to the Rodong Sinmun. The daily is North Korea's most widely read newspaper and is published by the ruling party. The meeting brought together agricultural officials from the ruling party, the Cabinet, as well as from cities, provinces and counties across the country. The KCNA quoted Ri as reporting to the meeting that the country saw "a step forward" in fulfilling its grain production target last year thanks to the adoption of scientific crop placement, new agricultural methods and other advanced technologies. Ri described the result as a "proud outcome brought about by the efforts and struggle of agricultural workers,"Jan 29, 2026By Yonhap
