On Thursday, Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the first local industrial factory of the year. He unveiled plans to construct factories, healthcare facilities, and comprehensive service centers in 20 regions this year, marking the third year of the Local Development 20X10 Policy.
The party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that a grand groundbreaking ceremony, signaling the start of construction under the local development policy for the new year, took place in Unryul County on Thursday. The report confirmed Kim’s attendance at the ceremony.
In his address, Kim stated that from today, it embarks on another meaningful endeavor for 2026 to implement the local development policy. He encouraged military builders, including commanders from the 124th regiment of the 4th army corps.
Kim emphasized that holding a groundbreaking ceremony for local development projects at the year’s start has become an indispensable and significant first step for the party and state across all provinces, cities, and counties.
He continued that this year, the third year of our local development policy implementation, it will see local industrial factories, healthcare facilities, and comprehensive service centers rise in 20 regions, including here in Unryul County. This will transform nearly one-third of the country’s cities and counties.
Kim affirmed that the party, which upholds the people-first principle as its political ideology, will continue to mobilize all resources for local development. It will vigorously and meticulously execute the annual plans based on innovative and scientific methodologies.
He urged military commanders that the key to perfectly executing this year’s vast and challenging construction tasks at the highest level lies in the elevated spirit and creativity of the soldiers. It must focus on their spiritual growth, nurturing everyone to be steadfast believers, defenders, and implementers of the party’s revolutionary ideology, actively contributing to the nation’s comprehensive development as true patriots.
Kim also reassured Unryul County residents, stating that by year’s end, modern factories, healthcare facilities, and service centers will undoubtedly rise here, transforming Unryul. It is committed to bringing about this change in Unryul with utmost dedication.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Pak Thae-song, along with leading officials from the party, government, and military, as well as commanders from the 124th regiment. Following his speech, Kim took commemorative photos with commanders from the People’s Army’s 124th regiment and exemplary soldiers.
North Korea launched the Local Development 20X10 Policy in 2024, aiming to construct local industrial factories in 20 counties annually for a decade. This initiative seeks to elevate the living standards and material conditions of local residents. The project is now in its third year of implementation.