Dec 8, 2025 – Experts predict the ninth Workers’ Party congress, slated for early 2026, may enshrine “Kim Jong‑un revolutionary ideas” into the party charter and could award Kim the title “grand marshal of the republic,” echoing honors once given to his predecessors[12].

Dec 9, 2025 – The enlarged 13th plenary meeting of the WPK’s Eighth Central Committee convenes, chaired by Kim Jong‑un and attended by Premier Pak Thae‑song, Choe Ryong‑hae and others, approving five agenda items that focus on policy review and preparations for the ninth congress[10].

Dec 10, 2025 – At the second day of the plenary, Kim delivers an “important conclusion” on this year’s policy implementation and stresses issues to resolve before the ninth congress, underscoring the meeting’s role in shaping the upcoming five‑year plan[9].

Dec 14, 2025 – Rodong Sinmun urges “all‑out public effort to finish major Workers’ Party projects” before the ninth congress, noting the event will be held in Jan‑Feb 2026 to adopt a new five‑year development plan, the first since 2021[8].

Dec 26, 2025 – Historical context: in 2022, North Korean drones breach the inter‑Korean border, prompting Seoul to deploy assets, illustrating the persistent security tension that frames the upcoming congress[7].

Dec 31, 2025 – South Korea’s two‑year non‑permanent seat on the UN Security Council ends, with the ministry noting “South Korea’s two‑year term as a nonpermanent United Nations Security Council member ends on Wednesday”[6].

Jan 8, 2026 – Rodong Sinmun calls officials to “honorably face the party congress with proud achievements from their devoted service to the people,” tightening discipline and loyalty checks ahead of the ninth congress expected in Jan‑Feb 2026[5].

Jan 22, 2026 – The party newspaper’s front page promotes a “people‑first” policy, linking it to Kim’s regional development projects; at a Hamhung plant, Kim “fires the vice premier … criticizing ‘defeatism, irresponsibility and passiveness’ among officials”[4].

Jan 23, 2026 – Pyongyang has not announced a congress date, but Seoul’s intelligence forecasts an early‑February meeting; the article recalls that the seventh congress in 2016 began after a nine‑day notice and the eighth in Jan 2021 was announced only a week ahead, highlighting the typical short‑notice practice[3].

Jan 29, 2026 – The WPK Central Committee elects delegates for the ninth congress, completing lower‑level elections; analysts expect the Politburo to set the exact date, and South Korean agencies continue to predict an early‑February convening[2].

Jan 30, 2026 – Delegates are elected at a headquarters conference; former Premier Kim Tok‑hun appears on the podium, signaling his continued senior role despite prior criticism, and South Korean intelligence again anticipates the congress in early February[1].

Feb 2026 (expected) – The ninth Workers’ Party congress convenes, its first since 2021, to unveil a five‑year economic development vision, conduct a personnel reshuffle, possibly enshrine Kim Jong‑un’s guiding ideology into the charter and confer the “grand marshal of the republic” title, thereby setting defence, economic and foreign‑policy directions for the next half‑decade[1†2†4†5†8†12].