For anyone who follows and observes North Korea, the past few days have been impossible to ignore. The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea opened in Pyongyang on 19 February 2026. It marks a major political moment for the country. Leaders are reviewing the achievements of the past five years and setting goals for the next five.
At this meeting, Kim Jong Un wears the Badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il again, which is an extremely rare scene since 2015. In this blog, we will explore the reasons behind this action and explain why he chose to do so.
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Brief about the Badges of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
In North Korea, every citizen wears badges bearing the images of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in daily life. The badges come in many different styles. Designers at the Mansudae Art Studio created them. People pin them on the left side of the chest to show respect for the former leaders. The idea was first inspired by the influence of Chairman Mao badges in China during the Cultural Revolution.
Today, the most common design features a red flag background with standard portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il placed side by side. The authorities introduced this double portrait after Kim Jong Il passed away. If you travel to North Korea, you will see that most people on the streets wear this version. When Kim Jong Un became the country’s top leader in 2011, he also wore the badges of his father and grandfather like everyone else.
However, from June 2015 onwards, Kim Jong Un began to appear at some public events without the badges. Over time, this became the norm. During his public activities, he no longer wore the portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Outside observers saw this as a signal. In their view, he was stepping out of his forefathers’ shadow and starting a more independent political path.
In the last century, North Korea also produced special badges for some foreign leaders. Click to read our blog about the rare pins of foreign leaders in the 70s for more details.
Kim Jong Un Wears the Badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il Again in 2026
Another reason why the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea has drawn so much attention lies in Kim Jong Un’s approach in recent years. He has criticised aspects of his predecessors’ work and strengthened his own role in politics. Slogans that promote “Kim Jong Un Thought” appear; Mosaic murals focus on him as the central figure; His portrait hangs on display in more places; and in June 2024, officials began to wear badges that carry only his image. All these signs point to the same trend. Observers have watched closely to see how the leadership might formalise this shift in policy or in official language.
At the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, many officials, including the foreign minister, have worn badges with only Kim Jong Un’s portrait. Against this background, his decision to wear the double badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il again has become even more intriguing.
Reasons of Kim Jong Un Wears the Badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il Again in 2026
In fact, Kim Jong Un’s action to wear the double badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at the congress is not unique to this Ninth Congress. He did the same at the Seventh Congress in 2016 and the Eighth Congress in 2021. It has become a convention. This practice relates to the special status of the previous leaders in North Korea.
From the Seventh and Eighth Congresses to the current Ninth Congress, the leading figure among the party representatives has never been Kim Jong Un, even though he sits at the centre of the rostrum. He ranks only third in the formal order. This arrangement sets North Korea apart from other Communist states such as China.
Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il hold a unique eternal status in the country. The constitution names Kim Il Sung as Eternal President and Kim Jong Il as Eternal General Secretary. In this sense, both men remain delegates to the congress. Their delegate numbers come before that of Kim Jong Un. They cannot attend in person, yet the system still presents them as present. One way to express this presence is for Kim Jong Un to wear the double badge with their portraits.
Inside the hall, the slogan of Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Ilism hangs above the rostrum. At the centre of the platform sits Kim Jong Un, wearing the Badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. The image suggests a form of symbolic trinity.
Conclusion
At the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jong Un wears the Badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il again, an item that every ordinary citizen in North Korea wears each day.
As people involved in North Korea’s tourism sector, we are watching this important congress with great interest. We also hope it may bring a positive impact on the country’s international tourism industry, which remains closed at present.
Read the latest updates on the tourism reopening here and check out YPT’s North Korea tours to learn more about opportunities to visit North Korea.
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