The following is a list of events from the year 2026 in North Korea.

Incumbents PhotoPositionNameGeneral Secretary of the Workers' Party of KoreaKim Jong UnPremier of North KoreaPak Thae-SongChairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's AssemblyChoe Ryong-hae

Events January 4 January – North Korea carries out a ballistic missile test over the Sea of Japan. 20 January – Kim Jong-un dismisses Yang Sung-ho as vice premier in charge of machinery after publicly accusing him of incompetence. 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. 27 January – North Korea carries out a ballistic missile test over the Sea of Japan.

February 19–25 February – 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. 22 February – 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea: The Workers' Party of Korea reappoints Kim Jong-un as its general secretary. 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.

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. 12 March – Train services between Beijing and Pyongyang resume for after a suspension imposed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 14 March – North Korea fires 10 ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan from a launch site in Sunan. 15 March – 2026 North Korean parliamentary election. 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. 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. 25 March – Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko visits Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.

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. 19 April – North Korea carries out a ballistic missile test into the Sea of Japan involving cluster munitions. 27 April – A museum and memorial dedicated to the North Korean involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present) is opened in Pyongyang.

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. 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. 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. 25 May – North Korea launches several close-range ballistic missiles at Yellow Sea. 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.

August 6 August – North Korea launches a short-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. 12 August – North Korea fires a missile from Wonsan into the Sea of Japan.

September 8 September – The first road bridge connecting Russia and North Korea is opened over the Tumen River between Rason and Khasan. 20 September – North Korea launches an unidentified projectile at the Sea of Japan. 23 September – Ukraine announces that two North Korean soldiers that had been captured while fighting for Russia had been transferred to South Korea.

October 3 October – Kim Yo Jong states that her country carried out a intermediate-range missile test.

Holidays

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. 29 March – Chang Ung, 87, basketball player (national team) and sports administrator, president of ITF (2002–2015) and member of the IOC (1996–2018). 23 July – Kim Jong-im, 90–91, politician. (death announced on this date) 15 September – Yun Tong-hyon, general and politician. (death announced on this date)

References