North Korea has completed the first phase of construction at the Dancheon Power Plant and held an inauguration ceremony, touting the achievement of its large-scale hydroelectric project. Facing chronic power shortages, North Korea is framing this project as a significant accomplishment of Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, and a testament to its self-reliance policy.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Wednesday that the first phase of the Dancheon Power Plant, a crucial development for the country’s power industry, has been successfully completed. The inauguration ceremony took place on Monday at the site.
The newspaper detailed how construction workers navigated the challenging northern mountainous terrain to create waterways and successfully built the Dancheon No. 1, 5, and 6 power plants along with two dams.
It further stated that this project has established another solid foundation for economic development and improving living standards, hailing the power plant’s construction as a demonstration of the nation’s developmental potential.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Pak Thae-song, the Premier and a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, along with other party and government officials, construction personnel, and local workers. The report did not mention whether Kim was present.
In his inaugural speech, Premier Pak characterized the construction of the Dancheon Power Plant as a project vital for national prosperity and the well-being of the people, emphasizing Kim’s leadership throughout.
He asserted that the unprecedented transformation of nature began under harsh conditions, attributing it to the dear respected General Secretary’s fervent patriotism and bold determination to turn the project into a reality for the prosperity of the motherland and the well-being of the people.
Pak also emphasized that despite numerous obstacles during the construction process, the extraordinary ideology and leadership of the dear respected General Secretary served as a powerful force that overcame all challenges and brought about transformation.
North Korea has positioned this construction as a key achievement in developing hydro resources in the northern region. Pak stated that with the completion of the Dancheon No. 1, 5, and 6 power plants, we have achieved significant results in the largest hydro resource development project that transfers water from various rivers in the northern region to the East Sea.
However, North Korea also signaled its intention to pursue follow-up construction. Pak noted that all brigades entering the second phase of construction are exceeding daily tasks with elevated fighting spirit and momentum, encouraging the early completion of additional power plants.
While North Korea claims this project will expand its national power production capacity and strengthen key industries, the actual scale of power generation and supply effects remain unverified. Nevertheless, given North Korea’s recent emphasis on local development policies and increased industrial production, it is expected to continue promoting hydroelectric projects to secure a stable power supply.
