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Today in History: Workers' Party Congress appoints Kim Jong Il successor

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 10:34 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

The 6th Workers’ Party Congress met in Pyongyang from 10-14 October 1980, with 3,062 delegates and 117 foreign observers. It re-elected Kim Il Sung as General Secretary, created a Politburo Presidium as the party’s top body, and solidified the leadership structure that later enabled his son Kim Jong Il to succeed him.

1 of 1

Story summary

The 6th Workers’ Party Congress met in Pyongyang from 10-14 October 1980, with 3,062 delegates and 117 foreign observers. It re-elected Kim Il Sung as General Secretary, created a Politburo Presidium as the party’s top body, and solidified the leadership structure that later enabled his son Kim Jong Il to succeed him.