North Korea may stipulate leader Kim Jong-un's guiding ideology in the Workers' Party of Korea's charter at next year's party congress, while promoting him to grand marshal, an expert predicted. Yang Moo-jin, a senior professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, offered this assessment at a forum on the Korean Peninsula's security outlook. The ninth congress, the first since 2021, is expected to set the country's key policy stance.
Yang Moo-jin, a senior professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, predicted on Tuesday that North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea may stipulate Kim Jong-un's "Kim Jong-un revolutionary ideas" in its charter during the ninth party congress early next year. This guiding ideology, centered on nationalism and the people's wellbeing, has been promoted to foster loyalty and glorify the regime.
The congress could also confer the highest title of "grand marshal of the republic" on Kim, according to Yang's assessment at a forum on the Korean Peninsula's security outlook. Both late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il received this honor, with Kim Jong-il awarded it posthumously. Kim Jong-un currently holds the rank of marshal.
"Under the framework of the ninth party congress, North Korea may concentrate on fostering 'Kim Jong-un's Choson,'" Yang said, referring to the historic name North Korea uses for itself.
This would be the first such meeting since the eighth congress in 2021, aimed at setting the country's key policy stance. The predictions highlight potential efforts to strengthen leader veneration and regime stability.