Kim Jong Un vows to boost living standards as he opens rare congressSEOUL, Feb 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to lift living standards as he opened a landmark congress, state media said Friday, offering a glimpse of economic strains within the sanctions-hit nation. At the last party congress in 2021, Kim made an extremely rare admission that mistakes had been made in "almost all areas" of economic development. It is just the ninth time the Workers' Party congress has convened under the Kim family's decades-long rule. The meeting was shelved under Kim's father Kim Jong Il, but was revived in 2016. - 'Biggest enemy' -The ruling parties of China and Russia -- North Korea's longtime allies -- sent friendly messages to mark the start of the meeting.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 20, 2026 08:25 UTC