The 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang from 5 to 12 January 2021. A total of 7,000 people participated in the congress including 5,000 delegates. The Party Congress took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic where no cases were reported. Preparations Hints of an upcoming 8th WPK Congress first emerged during the 13th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th WPK Central Committee held on 7 June 2020. The meeting mentioned a drafting of an amendment of the WPK Charter, which can only be approved through either a party congress or a party conference. The congress was announced through a decision issued at the 6th plenary meeting of the 7th WPK Central Committee on 19 August 2020. Among the congress agendas are the review of the work of the WPK Central Committee, the review of the work of the Central Auditing Commission, the revision of the WPK Charter and the election of the central leadership organ. WPK Chairman Kim Jong-un also revealed during the plenary meeting that a new five-year economic development plan is going to be presented at the congress after mentioning that the current five-year economic development plan has fallen far short of its objectives. Ahead of the party congress, an 80-day mass mobilization campaign was announced at the 19th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th WPK Central Committee on 5 October 2020. The campaign took place from 12 October until 30 December 2020. On 29 November 2020, the 21st enlarged Political Bureau meeting of the 7th WPK Central Committee was held which discussed preparatory work for the party congress, which included the preparations for the election of delegates to the party congress, the documents for the party congress and the political and cultural events to be held during the party congress. According to analysts, there will likely be a military and civilian parade sometime during the congress. The Political Bureau of the 7th WPK Central Committee decided during its 22nd meeting on 29 December 2020 that the party congress is to be convened in early January 2021. A separate report from the Korean Central News Agency on 30 December confirmed that the party congress is to be held in Pyongyang. Delegates Delegates to the 8th WPK Congress were elected in conferences of provincial party committees and other party organizations in December 2020. They