North Korea’s 9th Party Congress Opens, While Seoul Seeks EU Support for Peace

Updated 2026-02-20 02:43:48+00:00 (155 articles)

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Unification Minister Chung Dong-young (R) shakes hands with Olof Skoog, deputy secretary-general of the European External Action Service, during their meeting at the Ministry of Unification in Seoul on Feb. 19, 2026, in this photo provided by Chung's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks at the opening of a congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on Feb. 19, 2026, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size
Image: Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks at the opening of a congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on Feb. 19, 2026, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size
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This file image captured from the Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 28, 2026, shows a test of an upgraded multiple rocket launcher attended by leader Kim Jong-un and conducted the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) and his daughter, Ju-ae, watch a New Year's performance in Pyongyang in this Korean Central News Agency file photo on Jan. 1, 2026. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size

North Korea’s Workers’ Party Convenes First Session in Five Years The ruling Workers’ Party of Korea opened its ninth congress in Pyongyang on Feb. 19, 2026, the first gathering since 2021. Delegates will evaluate the previous five‑year plan and set a new agenda covering the economy, defense and diplomacy for the next half‑decade [1]. The congress marks a rare public assessment of Kim Jong‑un’s policy direction.

Congress Signals Conditional Openness to U.S. Talks Kim Jong‑un reiterated that any dialogue with Washington must be preceded by North Korean denuclearization, making it a precondition for talks [1]. Analysts expect the party to avoid a definitive rejection or acceptance of U.S. overtures, leaving diplomatic space before President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April [1]. The stance reflects a strategic balance between engagement and leverage.

New Weapons and Nuclear Deterrent Plans Highlighted The congress will clarify next‑stage nuclear deterrent development, building on the 2021 five‑year defense plan that introduced a nuclear‑powered submarine [1]. Officials indicated an upcoming military parade will showcase upgraded systems such as a multiple‑rocket launcher. Emphasis on advanced weaponry signals continued prioritization of strategic deterrence.

Potential Formalization of Kim’s Daughter as Heir Teenage daughter Kim Ju‑ae, who has appeared at high‑profile events, is being watched for an official title that could confirm a fourth‑generation hereditary succession [1]. Observers note that formalizing her status would cement the dynastic line, though no announcement has been made at the congress. The possibility underscores internal succession planning.

South Korea Requests EU Backing for Peninsula Peace Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young met EU deputy secretary‑general Olof Skoog on Feb. 19, 2026, asking the bloc to actively support Seoul’s peace‑building agenda on the Korean Peninsula [2]. Skoog responded that the EU would give “active support” and maintain close communication with Korean officials. The request aligns with South Korea’s broader diplomatic outreach.

Seoul Aims to Reinstate DMZ No‑Fly Zone and Expand Cooperation Chung announced plans to restore the 2018 inter‑Korean military pact’s no‑fly zone over the DMZ to prevent accidental clashes and build military trust [2]. The ninth Korea‑EU High‑Level Dialogue also covered security and digital cooperation, with the EU expressing optimism for continued bilateral results [2].

Sources

Timeline

2017 – China imposes unofficial bans on Korean pop and drama after Seoul deploys the U.S. THAAD missile‑defence system, a cultural barrier Lee later seeks to lift. [1]

2018 – Seoul, Washington and Tokyo create a joint working group on North‑Korea policy, later described as a “pro‑American noose” that limits Seoul’s diplomatic flexibility. [23]

2019 – The last South Korean president visits China, after which no Korean leader travels to Beijing until Lee’s 2026 state visit. [1]

2025 – Xi Jinping makes his first visit to South Korea in 11 years, setting the stage for rapid reciprocal high‑level trips in early 2026. [19]

Nov 28, 2025 – At the G20 summit in Johannesburg, President Lee reaffirms reunification as South Korea’s constitutional duty and warns that accidental clashes on the peninsula could occur. [26]

Dec 2, 2025 – Lee pledges to work toward a nuclear‑free Korean Peninsula, targets formal negotiations within six months and a denuclearization agreement by 2030. [30]

Dec 2, 2025 – Lee proposes reopening inter‑Korean hotlines and other diplomatic contacts to reduce tensions and promote peaceful coexistence. [29]

Dec 3, 2025 – Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stresses that diplomacy with North Korea must accompany deterrence, calling for de‑escalation and dialogue. [28]

Dec 15, 2025 – South Korea and the United States hold their first post‑June coordination talks on North‑Korea policy, agreeing to regular consultations. [25]

Dec 16, 2025 – A think‑tank forecasts that 2026 could see renewed U.S.–North Korea dialogue if Seoul creates “concrete conditions,” possibly leading to a Kim‑Trump summit in April. [24]

Dec 17, 2025 – The Unification Ministry declines to join a U.S.–Korea working group, opting for direct talks with Washington and sidelining the Foreign Ministry. [23]

Dec 18, 2025 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young says a planned April visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing could open a window for North‑Korea talks. [22]

Dec 18, 2025 – President Lee urges pre‑emptive steps to lower hostilities, noting North Korea’s new triple‑barbed‑wire fence along the DMZ. [21]

Jan 2, 2026 – Lee meets Xi in Beijing to discuss economic cooperation and Korean‑peninsula peace while South Korea endures a severe cold wave. [20]

Jan 2, 2026 – Lee reiterates South Korea’s One‑China policy ahead of the summit, emphasizing strategic autonomy and a strong U.S. alliance. [19]

Jan 4, 2026 – Lee departs Seoul for a four‑day state visit to Beijing, the first by a South Korean president since 2019, and plans meetings with Xi, Premier Li and NPC Chairman Zhao. [16][17]

Jan 4, 2026 – About 200 CEOs, led by SK, Samsung and LG chairs, fly to China on a KCCI delegation to join Lee’s business roundtable and explore AI, semiconductors and batteries. [15]

Jan 5, 2026 – Xi calls Lee’s visit “meaningful,” laying the groundwork for a “new era” in Korea‑China relations. [12]

Jan 5, 2026 – At a Korea‑China business forum, Lee urges deeper cooperation in AI, beauty products and cultural content, likening the two economies to ships sailing together. [14]

Jan 5, 2026 – Lee and Xi sign 14 MoUs on trade, technology and the environment and pledge to resume dialogue with North Korea. [13]

Jan 5, 2026 – Xi urges South Korea to “firmly stand on the right side of history” and align strategically amid China‑Japan tensions. [1]

Jan 5, 2026 – Lee raises the prospect of easing China’s unofficial K‑pop restrictions, linking cultural exchange to the 2017 THAAD‑related ban. [1]

Jan 6, 2026 – Lee tells Premier Li that he will make the restoration of Korea‑China ties an “irreversible trend of the times.” [11]

Jan 6, 2026 – Lee arrives in Shanghai, visits the centennial provisional‑government site, and attends the Korea‑China Venture Startup Summit. [9][10]

Jan 7, 2026 – Lee asks Xi to act as a mediator in the North‑Korean nuclear crisis, noting that all inter‑Korean communication channels are completely blocked. [4]

Jan 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hosts Lee in Nara for a two‑day summit, touring Hōryū‑ji Temple and discussing trade, security and a possible trilateral summit with Japan. [3][8]

Jan 13, 2026 – Lee and Takaichi pledge to deepen Korea‑Japan cooperation, stressing coordination on China and North Korea within a U.S.–led framework. [2]

Jan 13, 2026 – Lee tells Takaichi that Korea‑Japan cooperation is “more important than ever.” [7]

Jan 16, 2026 – Lee meets former Japanese PM Taro Aso, describing Seoul and Tokyo as “neighbors sharing a front yard” and calling for mutually beneficial ties. [6]

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https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/outspoken-liberal-leader-lee-elected-south-koreas-president-closing-period-of-political-tumult/ (cited 1 times)

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