Seoul, South Korea – North Korea has announced the completion of its “Local Development 20×10 Policy” projects for the past year, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The announcement, reported by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency on February 12th, comes after the completion ceremony for a local industrial factory in Kim Hyong Jik County, Ryanggang Province, held the previous day.
The Local Development 20×10 Policy, spearheaded by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, aims to construct factories in 20 cities and counties each year for ten years, with the goal of significantly improving the material and cultural living standards of the entire nation.
The project saw the successive completion of 20 local industrial factories, beginning with the completion of the factory in Songchon County, South Pyongan Province, on December 20th of last year.
The completion of the first year of the “20×10” initiative comes at a time when North Korea faces significant economic headwinds. International sanctions, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, have placed considerable strain on the country’s economy.
While the KCNA report highlights the successful completion of the project, independent verification of the factories’ operational status and their actual impact on local living standards remains difficult.
The Local Development 20×10 Policy was initially unveiled in January of last year, with Kim Jong-un emphasizing the need to address regional disparities and improve the quality of life for citizens across the country. The initiative is seen as a key component of the North Korean government’s efforts to achieve self-reliance and strengthen its socialist system.
The images released by KCNA, while limited to domestic use in South Korea, show the scale of the construction and the apparent commitment of the North Korean government to the project.
Conclusion:
The completion of the first year of the Local Development 20×10 Policy represents a significant undertaking for North Korea. While the long-term success of the initiative remains to be seen, the project underscores the government’s focus on local development and its ambition to improve living standards across the country. The project’s impact on the lives of ordinary North Koreans, and its contribution to the country’s overall economic development, will be closely watched in the years to come.
References:
- Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
- Yonhap News Agency
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