Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, attended the inauguration ceremony of the newly built Hoeyang County People’s Power Plant.
The party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that the inauguration ceremony of the Hoeyang County People’s Power Plant was held with great fanfare on Thursday, with Comrade Kim Jong Un in attendance.
The newspaper reported that the Hoeyang County People’s Power Plant had been completed, following power plants in Icheon, Muncheon, Sepo, Pyeonggang, and Goseong counties. It was described as the final project among six hydroelectric power plants that have been prioritized and built with full effort. These plants aim to boost economic development in Gangwon Province and improve the material and cultural lives of its people, in line with the General Secretary’s directive to continue advancing the construction of small- to medium-sized hydroelectric power plants.
North Korea, facing chronic power shortages, is constructing small and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants alongside large-scale ones. The newly built Hoeyang County People’s Power Plant falls into the small-to-medium category. However, the newspaper did not disclose the plant’s power generation capacity.
Ju Moon Jin, chairman of the Gangwon Province People’s Committee, emphasized in his inauguration speech that simultaneously constructing six power plants with the province’s own resources was a challenging, massive, nature-altering project that defied conventional wisdom and faced numerous obstacles. He added that the power plants erected throughout the province, including the Hoeyang County People’s Power Plant, are tangible manifestations of Comrade Kim Jong Un’s revolutionary ideas and stand as proud monuments to the new era, brought about by his unwavering trust in and dynamic leadership of the people of Gangwon Province.
Kim praised the achievement and said the project marked an important milestone for Gangwon Province in addressing its power problems by making bold use of hydropower resources that fit regional conditions. He also said it demonstrated the self-reliant spirit and determination of the people of Gangwon Province, who set ambitious goals and push forward through challenges.
Regarding the construction of six power plants in Icheon, Muncheon, Sepo, Pyeonggang, Goseong, and Hoeyang areas, following the earlier construction of the Anbyeon Youth Power Plant No. 2, Wonsan Youth Power Plant, and Wonsan County People’s Power Plant in Gangwon Province, Kim described it as a fortress of socialist beliefs. He said it reflected the collective desire of the people to make their precious land, protected with blood, even more solid and beautiful.
Kim said that as local development policies are being implemented nationwide, Gangwon Province’s efforts to strengthen its self-reliance serve as meaningful support for the country’s broader development goals.
He praised the dedication and work of provincial officials and workers. He said their determination to overcome challenges and achieve goals would push Gangwon Province forward in the ongoing local transformation.
During his visit, Kim inspected both the interior and exterior of the power plant. The exterior displayed the phrase Great Unity of the People, while the interior featured slogans such as Defend Party Policy, Increase Production and Create, and Technical Regulations. The exterior also carried the inscription Gift to the 9th Party Congress.
Jo Yong Won, the Party Secretary, and Park Tae Sung, the Premier of the Cabinet, accompanied General Secretary Kim on this public appearance.
The newspaper added that on the same day, a performance celebrating the completion of the six newly built county power plants was held at the Gangwon Provincial Art Theater.
On Wednesday, General Secretary Kim participated in the inauguration ceremony of a hospital in Gangdong County, and the following day, on Thursday, he attended the inauguration ceremony of the Hoeyang County People’s Power Plant in Gangwon Province. As the year ends, he appears to be personally overseeing and consolidating achievements connected to the Local Development 20X10 policy initiative.