North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the opening ceremony of a local industrial factory in Jangyeon County, declaring that local development policy is a long-cherished goal of the party while outlining key objectives for the coming year.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that the grand ceremony took place the previous day. The event was attended by Kim, high-ranking officials from the party’s Central Committee, and commanders from the Ministry of Defense and the People’s Army’s joint forces.
During the ceremony, Kim personally cut the ribbon and toured the facilities. In his address, he emphasized that strengthening the foundation for local development and significantly enhancing the material and cultural living standards of local residents is the party’s aspiration. The fundamental aim of its local development policy is to transform all cities and counties into self-sufficient and prosperous regions.
Kim commended the local food factory for its advanced beer production processes and locally branded products, describing it as a truly remarkable sight. He stated that producing high-quality goods using locally abundant raw materials exemplifies the precise implementation of party policy.
The newspaper also mentioned that Kim issued a series of important tasks for the construction of local industrial factories and the enhancement of self-reliance capabilities in provinces, cities, and counties for the upcoming year. However, specific details were not disclosed.
The Changyon County local industrial factory, which opened on Thursday, had begun construction on February 28.
North Korea has recently accelerated the inauguration of various local industrial factories as the year draws to a close. On Monday, Kim attended the opening ceremony of a local industrial factory and comprehensive service center in Gangdong County, accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and daughter, Ju-ae. This marks the launch of another local factory just three days later.
The newspaper also reported that on the same day, Prime Minister Pak Thae-song attended the opening ceremony of a local industrial factory in Bukchang County, North Pyongan Province. Meanwhile, Joo Chang-il, head of the Party’s Propaganda and Agitation Department, was present at a ceremony in Janggang County, Jagang Province, and Oh Su-yong, the Party’s economic policy advisor, attended an opening in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province.
During the 13th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Party Central Committee held from December 9 to 11, North Korea finalized plans for local development projects in 20 cities and counties next year. This initiative, known as the Local Development 20×10 Policy, aims to reduce the disparity between urban and rural areas.
