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On February 23, 2026, the state media KCNA of North Korea declared that the leader, Kim Jong Un, was re-elected as General Secretary of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) at the closing session of the Ninth Congress in Pyongyang. The unanimity of scrutiny was reported by the delegates who did not give any opposition votes and accredited Kim with enhancing the nuclear deterrent of the country, developing the military forces, and leading the economic construction under external pressure.

The party congress, which convenes after every five-year period beginning February 19, was a medium to support the policies of Kim. State outlets have glorified his iron will to strengthen the nuclear forces as the switch point of the war's deterrence and better standards of living. The re-election of Kim will secure his rule of 15 years since he moved to power on the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011.

The elections and votes for Congress in the highly controlled political structure of North Korea are rather demonstrations of loyalty and unity as opposed to competition. Ballots normally have one candidate or choice, and the turnout in the case of excessive mobilization is close to one hundred percent. The content of the 100% outcome is interpreted by the observers as a symbol of the absolute rule of the regime with no real opposition being allowed.

The announcement is taking place during international attention to missile tests, nuclear programs, and human rights in North Korea. Whereas the vote is just treated as a mere formality by the Western analysts, the vote is displayed by Pyongyang as a sign of absolute unification behind the leader. Kim utilized the congress to unveil his priorities, such as economic self-reliance and military modernization, which was an indication of continuity in policy direction.

This re-election cemented the position of Kim as the unchallenged leader of North Korea, and no apparent contenders or successive disagreements emerged on the surface. With the regime praising its victory, it is quite interesting to note that this will remind people of the permanence of the dynastic rule in one of the most closed countries in the world.