North Korea, under the "20×10 local development policy" being pushed as a priority project to narrow the urban-rural gap, has been holding back-to-back completion ceremonies for local industry factories across the country, including Kilju County in North Hamgyong Province, to showcase results.
Korean Central News Agency reported on the 24th that a completion ceremony for a local industry factory was held the previous day in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, attended by Ri Il-hwan, party propaganda secretary, Jeong Kyong-thaek, director of the General Political Bureau of the military, and Pak Jong-gun, vice premier and chairman of the State Planning Commission.
Kilju County is where the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where six nuclear tests were conducted, is located. In a dedication speech, Secretary Ri emphasized that "modern light industry factories have arisen here in Kilju County, a northern mountainous area of the homeland," and that the local development project "will be carried out more broadly and in a blitz manner going forward."
The latest policy is a plan to build factories in 20 counties each year and improve living standards within 10 years, with the aim of narrowing the gap with Pyongyang and preventing a loss of public support. In particular, ahead of the 9th Labor Party Congress early next year, authorities appear to be going all out to publicize achievements to residents.
Kim Jong-un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission, during visits on the 3rd to factories in Sinyang County, Bukchang County, and Unsan County in South Pyongan Province, ordered, "All local industry factories must responsibly complete preparations for operation without even minor flaws by the completion and start-of-operations ceremonies taking place in December."
On the 20th, Premier Pak Thae-song attended a completion ceremony in Baecheon County, South Hwanghae Province; Presidium Chairman Choe Ryong-hae of the Supreme People's Assembly attended in Koksan County, North Hwanghae Province; Propaganda and Agitation Department Chief Ju Chang-il attended in Kimjongsuk County, Ryanggang Province; and Chief Economic Policy Adviser O Su-yong attended in Sepo County, Kangwon Province.