North Korea has called for increased production efforts in key industrial sectors to implement decisions from the 2nd Plenary Meeting of the 9th Central Committee. The regime also ordered comprehensive measures to prevent damage as the monsoon season approaches.
On July 4, the front page of Rodong Sinmun, the North Korean ruling party’s official newspaper, highlighted several industrial achievements. These included the normalization of power production at the Bukchang Thermal Power Plant, coal industry equipment production at the Taean Heavy Machine Complex, increased fertilizer output at the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex, and building material production at the Chollima Tile Factory.
The newspaper described the core spirit of the 2nd Plenary Meeting as unwavering execution of party decisions, bold overcoming of obstacles, and resolute struggle to rectify shortcomings. It stressed that all party organizations must embody this spirit to accomplish this year’s objectives.
Page 2 portrayed struggle leading to more struggle as the Workers’ Party’s consistent revolutionary approach. It highlighted Kim Jong Un’s achievements, including the construction of 50,000 housing units in Pyongyang, rural development initiatives, the completion of the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, and the local development 20×10 policy.
The paper also reported on a photo exhibition titled, The Great Era of Kim Jong Un: The Transformed Northwest Region of Our Fatherland, being held across provinces and cities. The exhibition featured photos of Kim visiting flood-affected areas in Sinuiju and Uiju County, measures to protect flood victims, and images related to the construction of the Sinuiju Greenhouse Complex and development of the northwest region.
On page 3, the newspaper reported that party organizations at all levels are promoting emulation of socialist patriots. At the Musan Mining Complex, the party committee has raised the slogan “Let’s all live and struggle like socialist patriots!” to boost iron ore production. Similar efforts to promote exemplary socialist patriots are underway in Wonsan city and Eunjin and Jeongpyeong counties.
Page 4 profiled Oh Chung-hyun, a youth league committee leader at the Musan Mining Complex, emphasizing the party’s focus on youth. The article recounted how Oh, after facing legal sanctions, returned to his hometown and started anew as an open-pit mine worker with support from party and youth league organizations. The paper lauded this as a precious life embraced again by the party’s trust.
A special article on page 5, Let’s Establish Thorough Measures to Prevent Monsoon Damage, stressed the importance of disaster prevention. Citing the Central Meteorological Forecast Office, it warned that Typhoon No. 9, which formed east of Guam on July 2, could impact North Korea on July 12 to 13.
The article predicted an early start to this year’s monsoon season, with the front forming around June 5th. It forecast rain across North Korea on July 6 and 7, with potential for heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds in some central regions.
The newspaper emphasized the urgency of preparations, calling for all sectors to establish comprehensive preventive measures to minimize natural disasters. It stressed the need to reassess flood control infrastructure from a when, not if perspective.
Page 6 featured an anti-American article titled, The Most Inhumane Biological Warfare Atrocities by the U.S. Military in History, alleging U.S. forces used biological and chemical weapons during the Korean War. It claimed the U.S. utilized data from Japan’s Unit 731 for biochemical weapon development and quoted a purported U.S. Air Force prisoner of war (POW) expressing shame for participating in germ warfare.
The international section detailed China’s strong response to pressure from Western countries, including the U.S. and Japan. It reported China’s rejection of concerns about its nuclear capabilities, labeling such claims as baseless speculation, and stated that China would take countermeasures.
