Weeks of state media buildup finally culminated in the start of North Korea’s Ninth Party Congress on Thursday, with the large-scale political gathering poised to lay out the leader’s agenda over the next five years.

Kim Jong Un struck an optimistic tone in his opening remarks to the third congress held under his rule, promoting a vision of a resurgent North Korea that is no longer plagued by its economic woes from five years ago.

This narrative was on full display over the past week as the leader wrapped up several initiatives tied