20×10 Factories: Different Locations, Similar Products
The first factories built under North Korea’s 20×10 plan for regional industry are spread across the country, but their production is not nearly so varied. In each of the 20 locations chosen for the new clusters in 2024, factories were built to produce similar products: food, clothing and household goods. The products match Kim Jong Un’s stated goal of the regional industry plan, which is to raise living standards by providing basic goods.
However, that singular focus on the three product areas has not been carried over into 2025. This year’s projects include a wider range of facilities, although both 2024 and 2025 factories share something in common: they all hold the potential to improve people’s lives.
At each of the towns where new factories were built, opening ceremonies were held and local residents were allowed to tour the factories. State media cameras followed them inside and provided a look at the factory’s operations. In each one, production lines were apparently operating and had already been producing goods.
From the outside, each of the factory complexes looks different. In previous articles, we have discussed how most range in size from around 15,000 to 20,000 square meters.
However, inside, they are all largely producing a similar line up of goods.
In this article in our series on the 20×10 regional development factories, we take a closer look at what is being produced in the first batch of factories.
Monitoring fluctuations in the mix of facilities built under the 20×10 mandate is important because it indicates what common products the state believes are in short supply. It also indicates the general state of the economy and, looking ahead, will be important to monitor if the supply of raw materials is enough to keep the factories in operation.
Foodstuffs
The food factories all appeared to be producing a similar range of packaged foodstuffs on automated production lines. From state media coverage, many products appear to be packaged sweets and crackers, but bottled liquids, likely cooking oil and sauces, were also featured.
Soybean paste also appeared at several factories and in Onchon, a plastic tub of salted clams was shown. Fresh food did not feature prominently although in some factories, KCTV showed trays of what appeared to be baked goods fresh from an oven.
Each factory appeared to have a shop or showroom where the products were on display.
Daily Necessities
The daily necessities factories seemed to be focused on the same two product areas: soap and plastic goods.
The soap for laundry use was brightly colored and scented and carried a different packaging design in each factory. Scents included citrus, mugwort, honeysuckle and rose. Some factories also appeared to produce liquid laundry detergent, too.
The plastic goods were mostly for household use and included buckets, bowls, and food containers. Plastic pipes, such as those used for water, were on display in several factories.
Clothing
As with foodstuffs and daily necessities, the clothing factories all appeared focused on the same basic selection of clothes. These included children’s clothing, winter coats, athletic wear, pants, blouses and hanbok.
The production side of each factory is occupied by multiple sewing machine stations where workers assemble the garments.
The 20×10 Expo
To highlight the products being made at the 20×10 factories, an expo was recently held in Pyongyang. Each of the factories displayed goods and the expo also highlighted something that was not a major part of the TV coverage of the factory openings: the daily necessity factories also produce furniture.
The expo highlighted wardrobes, tables, chairs, chests of drawers and other items that are being produced at the factories.
What to Watch
Construction of this year’s projects is well underway and, while some are factories, the project is expanding the range of facilities. For example, in Kangdong county, a new hospital is being built as part of the 20×10 facilities, and in Hwangju county a grain management station is under construction. Such facilities stay faithful to the goal of improving citizen’s lives but veer from the three-factory formula observed in the first year.
State media recently reported that the “Ministry of National Defence group for the Regional Development 20×10 Policy,” which appears to be in charge of the soldier-laborers building the factories, completed a review of “the experience and lessons drawn last year.”
Without admitting errors, the report hinted that the supply and transport of materials was an issue last year that has now been improved.