Overview
- State media said Kim Jong Un presided over an enlarged 13th plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party’s Eighth Central Committee on Tuesday.
- The gathering approved five agenda items covering a review of this year’s party and state policies and preparations for the ninth party congress.
- Observers expect the multi‑day plenum to formalize the congress agenda, with South Korean intelligence projecting a January–February meeting where a new economic plan may be unveiled.
- Official photos placed Kim at the center of the podium alongside Pak Thae‑song, Choe Ryong‑hae and Jo Yong‑won, and showed propaganda secretary Ri Il‑hwan back in public view after about a year.
- South Korea’s military reported several North Korean artillery rounds off the west coast on Tuesday, which analysts characterized as winter training.