Ain’t No Congress Like a Party Congress

State media reported on January 24, 2026 that the first two phases of electing delegates to the 9th Party Congress took place during January.  

The first phase involved meetings of basic party organizations like party cells and primary party committees. These meetings elected representatives to city  and county party conferences.  These local party conferences were the second phase ahead of the party congress, electing representatives to provincial party conferences.   Once held, provincial party conferences along with sectoral party conferences held in things like the Korean People’s Army (KPA) and the DPRK Cabinet will elect delegates to the Ninth Party Congress.  

The roll out ahead of the 9th Party Congress differs in two notable ways from that of the 8th Party Congress.  First, the regime publicized an estimated  time when the Eighth Congress would convene.   The regime has never announced a month or date for the Ninth Congress.   Second, prior to the Eighth Congress state media issued a catch-all report that said all phases for electing party congress delegates occurred and the delegates were on their way to Pyongyang.   

This gives us a rough estimate as to when the Ninth Congress will meet.  Publicizing general meetings of party representatives (ie party cells and committee conference), provides a two to three week window when the congress will convene.  If state media reports, on or before 30 January, that provincial and sectoral party conferences were held, then the Ninth Congress and related sideline events will probably meet during the first week of February and end somewhere around Army Day on 8 February.

If the regime is slow-walking the run-up to the party congress in order to conduct additional publicity and agitation efforts then the Ninth Congress, and various related events, will probably convene between Army Day and end around Kim Jong Il’s birthday on February 16.