In its August issue, North Korea’s state-run magazine Joseon showcased the Kwangchon Chicken Farm, highlighting a visit by leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, in January. Earlier this year, officials announced plans to build a similar chicken factory in Pyongyang. However, the ongoing recovery efforts from recent flooding cast doubt on whether the project will stay on track. The magazine lauded the Kwangchon Chicken Factory as a model for the country’s poultry industry, boasting that it had successfully integrated and scientifically managed meat and egg production since its opening in January.
The magazine detailed that “all production processes in the breeding facilities are equipped with modern equipment” and that the factory operates under a comprehensive production system, ensuring the efficient management of meat and egg production.
It also emphasized that “the meat and eggs produced here reach the people, including the capital’s citizens.”
Located in Hwangju County, the Kwangchon Chicken Farm began construction in February 2020 and was completed in January. During his visit, Kim urged improvements in production to enhance living standards while touring the advanced facilities with Kim Ju Ae. He announced plans to build a similar factory in Pyongyang this year and outlined the construction task.
Kim revisited the Kwangchon Chicken Farm in February and reiterated his commitment to establishing a similar facility in the capital this year. However, there have been no significant updates on the project’s progress. North Korea experienced severe damage from heavy rains last month and has diverted resources toward recovery efforts, which may delay other major construction projects initially scheduled for this year.
Delays in North Korean construction projects are not unusual. The tourist zone on the east coast in Wonsan, initially slated for completion in 2020, faced delays due to intensified international sanctions and construction material shortages. Consequently, the opening date has been pushed to May 2025.
Plans announced during the 2021 Workers’ Party Congress included constructing 50,000 residential units in Pyongyang’s Hwasong District over five years, with 10,000 units to be built annually until 2025. However, the first phase, delayed by COVID-19, was completed in 2023, and the second phase, expected to finish this year, is still in progress. It remains uncertain whether the target of 50,000 units will be met by next year.
During the Supreme People’s Assembly in January, North Korea introduced the “Local Development 20X10 Policy,” which aims to establish modern local industrial factories in 20 counties over ten years to address poor economic conditions in rural areas. Even if construction is completed, the operational timeline for these factories remains unclear due to raw material and financial shortages.
The Pyongyang General Hospital initially considered a failed project after missing its completion deadline, is being revived. Under Kim’s direction, it is now expected to open this year, four years after its initial target date.