North Korea holds modest indoor performance to mark 81st Workers' Party anniversary

North Korea marked the 81st founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea with a modest indoor performance at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, attended by Kim Jong-un. The program featured patriotic songs, acrobatics and dance, emphasizing devotion to the party and the leader, who waved to the crowd and praised the participants. Foreign diplomatic envoys, members of overseas missions, senior party and military figures, and ordinary citizens were present.

This ceremony capped a series of low-key events, contrasting with the large-scale parades reserved for milestone years ending in zero or five. Previously, party officials visited the Party Founding Museum and were briefed on Kim's October 2025 visit. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim expressed satisfaction with the performance and highlighted the party's new-era goals.