North Korea showcased the success of its greenhouse agricultural complex in the flood-ravaged Wihwa Island district of Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province, by announcing the first vegetable harvest. Completing the project roughly a year after breaking ground and swiftly reporting the initial harvest, North Korea simultaneously emphasized disaster recovery efforts and improvements in citizens’ living conditions.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Monday that a bountiful first harvest was achieved at the newly established Sinuiju Comprehensive Greenhouse Farm. The newspaper stated that farm workers and employees managed temperature, humidity, and nutrition tailored to each crop variety’s growth requirements. They also implemented scientific cultivation practices in collaboration with research institutions, producing a diverse range of vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and cabbage.
The harvested produce was distributed to commercial networks as well as orphanages and schools. The newspaper highlighted positive reactions from children and residents who were delighted to receive fresh vegetables.
Previously, North Korea had announced plans to construct a large-scale greenhouse farm in the Sinuiju area, which was hit by floods last summer. Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, inspected the construction site multiple times following the groundbreaking ceremony in February of last year. North Korea has touted this greenhouse complex as the largest ever, spanning approximately 450 jeongbo (4.5 km², about 1,112 acres), about 1.5 times the size of Yeouido.
The newspaper reported that on February 2, Kim attended the completion ceremony, describing the farm as a monumental creation that bears witness to the great transformation of the Kim era and a gift of loyalty dedicated to the party’s 9th Congress. The event was attended by party officials Cho Yong-won and Pak Jong-chon, along with government and military representatives, young construction workers, and local residents.
In his congratulatory speech, Kim emphasized that they had established a new foundation for life in an area that had experienced natural disasters, stating that they’re witnessing a transformation so remarkable that it surprises even themselves. He asserted that the party’s intention is for the people to quickly benefit from world-leading advancements in greenhouse scale, cultivation technology, and production volume, claiming that they’re undergoing a crucial process of change for the fundamental transformation of the region.