The 26th Congress of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) was held at the Korean Hall of Culture in Tokyo on May 23 and 24.

Present there were Chairman Ho Jong Man, First Vice-Chairman and Director of the Organizational Department Pak Ku Ho and vice-chairpersons Nam Sung U, Pae Jin Gu, Jo Il Yon, So Chung On and Kang Chu Ryon of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee, the chairman of the Central Audit Committee of Chongryon, members of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee, the director of the Research Institute on History of Korean Residents in Japan, headquarters chairpersons of Chongryon, leading officials of central organizations of Chongryon and its affiliates, members of the Central Audit Committee and deputies elected from institutions, organizations and bodies at all levels of Chongryon.

The national anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was played at the congress.

Nam Sung U read out a congratulatory message from the Standing Committee of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly to the 26th Congress of Chongryon.

After a report on the examination of qualifications, the congress adopted as its agenda items "On the review of the work of the 25th term of Chongryon and the tasks of its 26th term", "On the revision of the programme and rules of Chongryon", "On the financial settlement of the 25th term and the budget for the 26th term" and "Election of the officials of the central organizations of Chongryon".

Pak Ku Ho made a report on the first agenda item.

He said that Chongryon had vigorously conducted the patriotic work under the meticulous guidance and paternal love of the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un during the period under review and that it would set a new period of struggle till the 80th formation anniversary of Chongryon and wage a dynamic patriotic movement.

He also set forth the main tasks of Chongryon in the 26th term and stressed the need to decisively strengthen the internal forces of Chongryon as required by the new period of struggle.

The reporter called upon the deputies to the 26th Congress to fulfil their honourable mission and duty in the struggle to achieve the overall development of the movement of Koreans in Japan with the patriotic strength of compatriots as the only driving force, bearing in mind the firm faith and will that the victory of the Juche cause and Chongryon's patriotic cause is a science as they are guided by the respected Marshal.

Then speeches were made.

Introduced at the congress were congratulatory messages and videos of congratulations from institutions, organizations and officials in the homeland, overseas compatriots' organizations, organizations and individual personages of Japan and foreign friendship organizations.

Delegates of Korean youth and students in Japan entered the venue of the congress to congratulate the participants on the 26th Congress of Chongryon.

Ri Myong Yu, chairman of the Central Audit Committee of Chongryon, made a report on the work of the audit committee.

The congress adopted the report of the Central Committee of Chongryon on the first agenda item as a decision of the congress.

It also unanimously adopted a report of the examination committee for the revision of the programme and rules of Chongryon on the second agenda item and a report of the financial settlement and budget review committee on the third agenda item.

The congress elected Ho Jong Man as chairman of the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon.

It also elected the first vice-chairman, vice-chairpersons, director general of the General Affairs Department and members of the Central Committee of Chongryon and members of its Central Audit Committee.

A letter to the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un was adopted at the congress.

At the end of the congress, the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon was formed at the First Session of the 26th Central Committee of Chongryon, and the Central Audit Committee of Chongryon elected its chairman and vice-chairmen.

During the congress, an art performance and a photo exhibition were held to celebrate the 26th Congress of Chongryon.

There was also an exhibition showing the successes made by Chongryon in the development of national education.