March 29, 2024
Analysis

North Korea’s Party Congress, explained: Why all eyes are on Kim this January

The Eighth Party Congress is expected to make a major reveal in terms of DPRK politics, the economy and more

North Korea is about to hold one of its most politically-important events of 2021: The Eighth Party Congress, which could reveal anything from the country’s top-tier economic goals for the coming years to major leadership changes.

North Korea has yet to announce the exact date, but the Party Congress is expected to take place sometime in January. The last time North Korea held an event like this was 2016, and this time around, it comes at a critical moment for the country — in 2020, the DPRK suffered several natural disasters, economic woes related to COVID-19 and a continued squeeze from international sanctions.

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