Kim Jong-un was “re-elected” this Sunday (22) general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea during the party’s 9th Congress, held in Pyongyang. With his reappointment to the position, he remains North Korea’s top leader. The decision to keep him as leader of the party was approved “unanimously” on the fourth day of the congress, as reported this Monday (23) by the North Korean state agency KCNA.
According to the KCNAthe reappointment reaffirms the “high confidence and sincere support” of the party, the “government” and the “people” for Kim. The agency highlighted that, under the dictator’s leadership, the country’s “military deterrence” was “radically improved”, with nuclear forces as the central axis of the defense strategy.
Kim’s “re-election” generated demonstrations of support from some countries allied with the North Korean regime. China’s dictator, Xi Jinping, congratulated Kim, saying, according to the Chinese state agency Xinhuathat the “reappointment” demonstrates the “high confidence” of the party and the “North Korean people” and reiterating the commitment to “strengthen bilateral relations between Beijing and Pyongyang”.
The dictators of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, conveyed to Kim “the warmest and most fraternal congratulations” and reiterated the “unbreakable commitment to continue strengthening the historic ties of revolutionary brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation” between Managua and Pyongyang.
The congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which brings together around 5,000 delegates and traditionally takes place every five years, is expected to conclude in the coming days.
