On January 8, the Rodong Sinmun reported that the completion ceremony of a local industrial factory in Jaeryeong County, part of the “20X10 Local Development Policy,” was held on January 7. Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, attended the event. The next day after North Korea claimed to have launched a “new hypersonic missile,” Kim highlighted achievements in his first economic engagement of the new year by attending the factory completion ceremony. This visit followed shortly after successes in the defense sector, signaling a commitment to his “20X10 Local Development Policy,” which aims for regional advancement while maintaining priority on national defense and security, differentiating from previous leadership.
The Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim Jong-un participated in the “20X10 Local Development Policy (Hwanghaenam-do) Jaeryeong County Local Industrial Factory Completion Ceremony” the previous day. Attending the event were key officials, including Park Tae-sung, Prime Minister of the Cabinet, construction personnel, factory managers, and workers.
The “20X10 Local Development Policy” involves constructing modern local industrial factories in 20 cities and counties each year, aiming to enhance the living standards of local and rural areas within ten years. Kim Jong-un introduced this policy during the Supreme People’s Assembly in January of last year.
During the ceremony, Kim Jong-un cut the ribbon personally and inspected the factory, urging the sustained and robust support from the party and government for local development initiatives. He emphasized the importance of local party and government agencies paying close attention to securing the necessary conditions for the regular operation of local industrial factories, including raw material supply and skilled labor, insisting on their execution without fail. He remarked that this year should mark another leap forward in local construction.
The ceremony was led by Ju Chang-il, head of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, known as the “mouth of the Workers’ Party,” highlighting the importance of the “20X10 Local Development Policy” as a crucial party task, experts suggest.
Ju reiterated that the local development policy is the “most significant political task” of the party and state. He emphasized that the completion of the Jaeryeong County industrial factory is a proud achievement and a new stepping stone for greater struggles and advancements, stating that this critical task, welcomed by all people nationwide, must yield perfect results annually, regardless of conditions.
Experts analyze that North Korea’s emphasis on the “20X10 Local Development Policy” is closely linked to Kim Jong-un’s strategy for independent idolization. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said, “It seems Kim Jong-un is aiming to create achievements distinct from his predecessors through local development policies, which directly contribute to improving residents’ lives. Going forward, it is expected that he will emphasize achievements in the economic sector, focusing on regional development alongside achievements in the defense sector, as two sides of the same coin.”