2026 in North Korea
| |||||
| Centuries: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decades: | |||||
| See also: | Other events of 2026 Years in North Korea Timeline of Korean history 2026 in South Korea | ||||
The following is a list of events from the year 2026 in North Korea.
Incumbents
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Events
January
- 4 January – North Korea carries out a ballistic missile test over the Sea of Japan.[1]
- 20 January – Kim Jong-un dismisses Yang Sung-ho as vice premier in charge of machinery after publicly accusing him of incompetence.[2]
- 26 January – The Tokyo District Court in Japan orders North Korea to pay 88 million yen ($570,000) in compensation to four Zainichi Koreans who were lured to move to the country through propaganda schemes but instead experienced inappropriate conditions before escaping.[3]
- 27 January – North Korea carries out a ballistic missile test over the Sea of Japan.[4]
February
- 19–25 February – 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.[5][6]
- 22 February – 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea: The Workers' Party of Korea reappoints Kim Jong-un as its general secretary.[7]
- 23 February – 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea: The Workers' Party of Korea promotes Kim Yo Jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un, as a full department director of the Party.[8]
March
- 9 March – General Secretary Kim Jong-un reaffirms North Korea's relations with China in a letter written to General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping.[9]
- 12 March – Train services between Beijing and Pyongyang resume for after a suspension imposed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]
- 14 March – North Korea fires 10 ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan from a launch site in Sunan.[11]
- 15 March – 2026 North Korean parliamentary election.[12]
- 19 March – North Korea qualifies for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup after defeating Chinese Taipei 4–0 during the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup playoffs in Australia.[13]
- 22 March – Following the 2026 North Korean parliamentary election, Kim Jong Un is reelected chairman of the State Affairs Commission (head of State) and Pak Thae-song is reappointed as Premier.[14]
- 25 March – Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko visits Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.[15]
April
- 8 April – KCNA says that the country has tested various military technologies throughout the week including a surface-to-surface tactical missile called Hwasongpho-11 Ka.[16]
- 19 April – North Korea carries out a ballistic missile test into the Sea of Japan involving cluster munitions.[17]
- 27 April – A museum and memorial dedicated to the North Korean involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present) is opened in Pyongyang.[18]
May
- 17 May – Naegohyang Women's FC arrive in South Korea to compete at the AFC Women's Champions League in Suwon, the first time a North Korean sports team has been sent to the South since 2018.[19]
- 20 May – Naegohyang Women's FC defeats South Korean side Suwon FC Women at the semifinals of the AFC Women's Champions League in Suwon.[20]
- 23 May – Naegohyang Women's FC wins the 2025–26 AFC Women's Champions League after defeating Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1–0 at the final in South Korea.[21]
- 25 May – North Korea launches several close-range ballistic missiles at Yellow Sea.[22]
June
- 8 June – Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, visits North Korea and meets with General Secretary Kim Jong Un after seven years.[23]
August
- 6 August – North Korea launches a short-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.[24]
- 12 August – North Korea fires a missile from Wonsan into the Sea of Japan.[25]
Holidays
Source:[26]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 8 February – Korean People's Army Foundation Day
- 16 February – Birthday of Kim Jong-Il
- 17 February – Seollal
- 3 March – Daeboreum
- 8 March – International Women's Day
- 4 April – Chungmyung Day
- 15 April – Birthday of Kim Il-sung
- 25 April – Chosun People's Army Foundation Day
- 1 May – Labour Day
- 6 June – Chosun Children's Union Foundation Day
- 27 July – Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War
- 15 August – Liberation Day
- 25 August – Day of Songun
- 9 September – National Day
- 25 September – Hangawi
- 10 October – Party Foundation Day
- 16 November – Mother's Day
- 27 December – Constitution Day
Deaths
- 20 January – Li Chang-Su, 58, judoka and defector to South Korea.[27]
- 29 March – Chang Ung, 87, basketball player (national team) and sports administrator, president of ITF (2002–2015) and member of the IOC (1996–2018).[28]
- 23 July – Kim Jong-im, 90–91, politician.[29] (death announced on this date)
References
- ↑ "(2nd LD) N. Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS". Yonhap. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ↑ "North Korea's Kim Jong Un fires vice premier, publicly rebukes officials". Al Jazeera. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ "Japan court orders compensation for migrants lured to North Korea". BBC. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ↑ "North Korea test-launches 2 ballistic missiles toward sea, Japan and South Korea say". ABC News. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "North Korea's Kim Jong Un pledges to lift living standards at rare congress". Al Jazeera. 2026-02-20. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "North Korea's Kim gifts rifles to officials and his daughter takes aim after party congress". Associated Press. 2026-02-28. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ↑ "Kim Jong Un re-appointed leader of North Korea's ruling party". BBC News. 2026-02-23. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "N.Korea leader's sister promoted at party congress". France 24. 2026-02-23. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "N. Korea's Kim reaffirms relations with China in letter with Xi Jinping: KCNA". The Korea Times. 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
- ↑ "First train to Pyongyang in six years leaves Beijing as neighbours revive link". ChannelNewsAsia. 12 March 2026.
- ↑ "S.Korea says North fires around 10 ballistic missiles". France 24. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ↑ "A Primer on North Korea's Upcoming Parliamentary Election". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ↑ "North Korea, Philippines qualify for 2027 Women's World Cup". France 24. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "N. Korea Reappoints Kim Jong-un as President of State Affairs Commission". KBS.
- ↑ "North Korea holds lavish welcome for Belarus president". DW. 25 March 2025.
- ↑ "N. Korea says test-fired tactical ballistic missile tipped with cluster bomb warhead". Yonhap News Agency.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "North Korea again tests cluster munitions in a launch observed by Kim and his daughter". AP News. 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kim Jong Un opens memorial for N Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine war". BBC. 2026-04-27. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ "North Korean women's soccer team arrives in South Korea for regional tournament". AP News. May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
- ↑ "North Korean soccer team beats South Korean hosts in rare match between divided countries". AP News. May 20, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ↑ "President Lee Jae Myung Congratulates North Korean Champions". The Chosun Daily. 2026-05-23. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
- ↑ "(LEAD) N. Korea fires close-range ballistic missiles toward Yellow Sea: JCS". Yonhap News Agency. May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ↑ "China's Xi Jinping calls for strengthened 'strategic cooperation' with North Korea in rare summit with Kim Jong Un". CNN. 2026-06-08. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- ↑ "North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile, South Korea's military says". Reuters. 2026-08-06. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- ↑ "North Korea launches another missile toward sea ahead of US-South Korean military drills". The Times of Israel. Associated Press. 2026-08-12. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
- ↑ "North Korea Public Holidays 2026". Time and date. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ↑ "North Korean Judo Defector Lee Chang-soo Dies". The Chosun Daily. 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ↑ "IOC expresses deep sorrow at passing of IOC Honorary Member Ung Chang". International Olympic Committee. 31 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Wreath to Bier of Kim Jong Im". Korean Central News Agency. 23 July 2026. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
