North Korea’s Kim Jong-un set to signal stronger nuclear deterrence posture at congress
Last Updated on January 31, 2026 8:26 pm
By Park Chan-kyong
North Korea is set to use its coming Workers’ Party congress to signal an escalation towards carrying out large-scale nuclear retaliation in the event of a conflict with the US, with analysts expecting Pyongyang to unveil plans centred on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking American cities.
The move was foreshadowed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday, when he said he would announce next-phase plans to further strengthen the country’s “nuclear war deterrence capabilities”.
While the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has yet to mention a date for the congress, a conference of the party’s central committee on Wednesday elected delegates to attend the meeting.
Source : SCMP