Kim Jong-un presided over the second plenary session of the Workers' Party of Korea's ninth central committee in Pyongyang, with state media releasing images on 23 June 2026 from the three-day gathering held 20–22 June.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released undated photographs on 23 June 2026 showing Kim Jong-un at the plenary session, the official channel through which North Korea disclosed the meeting's outcomes to the outside world.
The Workers' Party of Korea plenary ran from 20 to 22 June 2026 — a three-day session during which Kim Jong-un reportedly directed officials to accelerate the growth of the country's nuclear assets, according to KCNA.
Speaking at the plenary, Kim Jong-un called for efforts to further increase North Korea's nuclear assets 'with a goal of overtaking the world,' according to the state-run KCNA — the most explicit public statement of nuclear ambition from Pyongyang in recent years.
North Korea's declared intent to expand its nuclear arsenal, as reported by KCNA on 23 June 2026, raises fresh concerns among regional powers and international observers about Pyongyang's military trajectory and strategic deterrence posture.