North Korean leader Kim Jong Un re-elected for a five-year term, praised by party for expanding nuclear capabilities; China congratulates him:North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been re-elected by the party for another five years, praising the significant increase in nuclear capabilities during his tenure.

News Topical, Digital Desk : North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been re-elected to the top post of the ruling Workers' Party for the next five years. Delegates have praised Kim Jong for strengthening the country's nuclear arsenal and consolidating its regional position. According to the party congress report, Kim has been re-elected to outline major political and military goals for the next five years. The party hopes that he will push to accelerate the military's nuclear program which is already equipped with missiles capable of threatening Asian American allies and the US mainland. Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Kim Jong.

Kim Jong Un's focus is on increasing nuclear capabilities

Kim Jong Un's focus is increasing nuclear capabilities. Analysts say Kim will likely use the meeting to highlight new military goals, including strengthening conventional forces and integrating them with nuclear capabilities, as well as reassert an economic "self-reliance" drive through mass mobilization after a post-pandemic trade recovery with China and slow economic progress driven by arms exports to Russia. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim was re-elected as party general secretary by the "unwavering will and consensus" of thousands of delegates on the fourth day of the meeting on Sunday.

Kim's army can deal with any country's attack

Kim, 42, has held the top party position throughout his tenure. The designation First Secretary was changed to Chairman at the 2016 Congress. It was then upgraded to General Secretary at the 2021 Congress. The party said in a statement that by building nuclear forces, Kim has created an army capable of dealing with "any threat of aggression" and "any form of war." The party credited Kim's leadership with providing "credible guarantees" for the country's future and enhancing the "pride and self-respect" of the North Korean people. KCNA said the Congress adopted amendments to party rules at Sunday's meeting but did not immediately provide details. Experts had expected Kim to use the congress to reinforce his hardline policy toward South Korea and possibly amend party rules to describe inter-Korean relations as between two "hostile" states.

North Korea's most intense tension with the US

Tensions between North Korea and the US are at their highest during the Trump presidency. North Korea suspended all meaningful diplomacy with the US and South Korea after a 2019 summit between its leader Kim and then-US President Donald Trump collapsed over disagreements over sanctions relief in exchange for steps to curtail its nuclear and missile programs. Kim's government has rejected offers for dialogue since the start of Trump's second term. Kim has urged the US to abandon its demand for North Korea's denuclearization as a precondition for talks with the US.