North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded his nation’s improving economy and regional standing as he opened the country’s most important political event, where he is expected to set his domestic and foreign policy agenda for the next five years and further entrench his family’s authoritarian rule.

Axar.az informs, citing NBC News, Kim said the North has made significant progress since the last congress in 2021, held during the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, citing economic gains and a firmer regional footing that he said marked an “irreversible” strengthening of the state’s status.

Korean Central News Agency said the congress meeting in Pyongyang would be used to define major policy goals for the coming years and strengthen the party’s organizational capabilities, but it did not provide more specific information on the agenda.

The congress, which is likely to run for days, came after a weekslong buildup during which Kim flaunted his military capabilities and toured major industrial and housing projects to tout his alleged achievements over the past five years. About 5,000 delegates are participating in the congress, including 224 members of the party’s central leadership, Kim said.