Kim Jong‑un Calls for Epochal Rural Progress Ahead of February Party Congress
Updated (3 articles)
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Image: Yonhap -
Image: Yonhap
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Image: Yonhap -
Image: YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects cheese stocked on shelves during the inauguration ceremony for the Samgwang Stockbreeding Farm in Unjon, North Phyongan Province, on Feb. 2, 2026, in this image from the Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size
Leadership Emphasizes Agricultural Modernization Kim Jong‑un toured the newly inaugurated Samgwang Stockbreeding Farm in Unjon, declaring a need for “epochal progress” in the party’s rural‑revolution program and pledging to lift the livestock sector to world‑class standards through scientific and technological upgrades; he sampled ten dairy varieties, including Swiss‑style raclette, cheddar and mozzarella, underscoring his personal interest in cheese after studying in Switzerland[1].
Cabinet Review Highlights Grain Production Gains On Jan. 29, a virtual cabinet meeting overseen by Premier Pak Thae‑song, party secretary Jo Yong‑won and Vice Premier Ri Chol‑man assessed 2025 farm output, reporting a “step forward” in meeting grain targets thanks to scientific crop placement, new methods and expanded machinery use, while also calling for measures to counter abnormal climate conditions[2].
Party Congress Serves as Policy Pivot for Rural Development Both reports note that the first five‑year party congress in five years is slated for February, positioning agricultural achievements and the dairy‑farm inauguration as key evidence of economic progress that will shape policy priorities for the next five‑year plan[1][2].
State Media Frames Rural Achievements as Public Welfare KCNA footage highlighted Kim’s praise of the farm’s output, emphasizing that high‑quality milk and dairy products will reach children and the broader public, reinforcing the regime’s narrative that modernizing agriculture directly improves living standards[1].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Kim Jong‑un Pushes “Epochal Progress” for Rural Development Ahead of Party Congress – Details Kim’s dairy‑farm inauguration, his call for sweeping rural advances, and the symbolic focus on cheese varieties to showcase modernization before the upcoming congress.
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2.
Yonhap: North Korea Reviews 2025 Farm Output Ahead of Party Congress – Describes the virtual cabinet assessment of 2025 agriculture, grain target progress, leadership involvement, and the strategic timing of the review ahead of the February party congress.
Timeline
Nov 27, 2025 – KCNA circulates a file photo of a Kim Jong‑un mosaic at a newly built rural housing complex in North Hamgyong Province, using the leader’s image to legitimize rural construction projects and foreshadow the “rural revolution” narrative that will dominate the upcoming party congress [3].
Jan 7, 2026 – State newspaper Rodong Sinmun lauds a “new‑era rural revolution,” calling farm‑village construction an “immortal journey” and claiming unprecedented gains in agricultural output and technology, positioning rural development as a headline agenda for the imminent ninth party congress [3].
Jan / Feb 2026 (expected) – North Korea plans to convene its ninth Workers’ Party congress in early 2026, the first since the eighth congress in 2021 that adopted a five‑year economic plan, where leaders will set a new five‑year development blueprint and likely foreground the rural‑revolution achievements [3].
Jan 29, 2026 – Premier Pak Thae‑song, party secretary Jo Yong‑won and Vice Premier Ri Chol‑man chair a virtual Cabinet meeting reviewing 2025 farm output, reporting a “step forward” in grain targets thanks to scientific crop placement and urging expanded machinery use to meet this year’s goals and address climate challenges [2].
Feb 2, 2026 – Kim Jong‑un inaugurates the Samgwang Stockbreeding Farm in Unjon, North Pyongan Province, sampling ten dairy varieties and declaring a push for “epochal progress” to transform North Korea’s livestock sector into a globally competitive industry, underscoring the regime’s focus on economic achievements ahead of the party congress [1].