North Korea's first ruling party congress in nearly five years appears to be imminent as delegates have arrived in Pyongyang. 

The North's official Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) reported on Thursday that delegates from around the country arrived in Pyongyang in late December for the Eighth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The report said the participants of the congress were warmly welcomed by Pyongyang citizens. 

The participants reportedly received delegate certificates from the party in a ceremony held on Wednesday. 

In the ceremony, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the eighth party congress will be a grave political event that will set a new milestone for change in party history by presenting guidelines and strategies to build a strong socialist country. 

The participants of the ceremony reportedly did not wear face masks amid heightened antivirus measures.