North Korea’s New Regional Development Plan Off to a Fast Start
Less than a month after Kim Jong Un announced plans to boost regional development with the construction of 200 new factories over the next decade, the foundations for one of the first factories are already apparent.
Commercial satellite imagery shows that in Yonthan (Yontan) County, North Hwanghae Province, a site that was vacant on February 4, now has the foundations laid for several buildings.
The speed with which construction has begun is impressive and typical of the pace at which the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) has approached recent high-profile economic projects. It is also vital if the country wants to avoid an early stumble in fulfilling the ambitious regional development plan.
Construction Status and Plans
North Korean state media reported on Tuesday that DPRK Premier Kim Tok Hun’s recently visited the site. The report said Kim also visited construction sites in nearby Unpha (Unpa), North Hwanghae, and Jaeryong (Chaeryong) and Unchon counties, South Hwanghae, although the location of those sites is yet to be determined.
The Tuesday report was accompanied by a photo of Kim at the Yonthan site.
Figure 2a. Medium-resolution Planet coverage shows no construction progress at site of KCNA image in Yonthan County on February 4, 2024. Image © 2024 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].; Figure 2b. Medium-resolution Planet coverage shows construction progress at site of KCNA image in Yonthan County on February 12, 2024. Image © 2024 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
The “20×10” regional development plan is an ambitious plan to build new factories in 20 counties a year over the next 10 years. It was presented on January 15 by Kim Jong Un to delegates of the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang.
The plan is based on a project in Kimhwa County, Kangwon Province, that began after the area was damaged by floods. Over the last two years, factories have been built, supplying food, clothes, building materials, paper and consumer goods.
Revisiting the Pyongyang General Hospital
At the same January meeting, Kim also called for the Pyongyang General Hospital to finally open. The exterior of the building in central Pyongyang was completed in late 2020, but it has yet to be operational. State media has not commented on issues facing the project, but they likely include difficulties acquiring medical equipment needed to fill the hospital.
In early February, state media reported that Kim Tok Hun visited that site, too. Earlier, Kim Jong Un said the hospital in Pyongyang should be opened this year, and a new hospital should be built in Kangwon Province. Then, “modern general hospitals should be built in other provinces every year.”
