"10 Times More New Products"... Factories Compete to Increase Variety

[Anchor]

North Korea has been successively building modern factories in regional areas in a bid to reduce the living standards gap between Pyongyang and the provinces. Now in its third year, these regions are producing a variety of products that highlight local characteristics.

Reporter Kim Ayeong has the details.

[Reporter]

This footage shows the recent state of regional industrial factories across North Korea, broadcast by Korean Central Television on the 11th.

This is the regional industrial factory in Unsan County, North Pyongan Province, which was completed in February of last year.

Employees are promoting a massive expansion in product variety through a fierce competition to develop new products.

Just how much has it increased?

[When the factory was first completed, only 13 types of products were produced, but now new products amounting to nearly 10 times that number are being produced. Reflecting the characteristics of our Unsan County, which abounds in pine nuts, we are making pine nut candy, pine nut snacks….]

The variety of products has reportedly surged by a staggering 10 times in just over a year.

And this is apparently not just the case here.

The Rodong Sinmun reported that the number of products at the foodstuff factory in Shinyang County, South Pyongan Province, increased from around 20 to more than 120, while the regional factory in Unpa County, North Hwanghae Province, saw its product lineup expand from around 20 at the time of initial completion to over 110.

North Korea began constructing regional factories in earnest starting in 2024.

This is in accordance with the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy," which aims to build modern light industry factories in 20 cities and counties every year over a 10-year period.

According to North Korea, factories have already been established in 40 cities and counties. While additional factories continue to be built on one side, those already completed appear to be competing for performance by increasing their product counts.

[Ri Un-chol / Manager, Bukchang County Foodstuff Factory: We have exhibited over 80 types of products, including wheat soybean paste and wheat soy sauce. Our factory has only been in operation for two months.]

[Kim Young-hee / Director, North Korea Development Research Institute: As marketization progresses, the desires and demands of residents are changing significantly, so they are taking preferences and local characteristics into consideration.]

Some experts suggest that due to a lack of large-scale production lines, it is more efficient to produce a diverse range of items on a small scale that leverage local traits rather than mass-producing a select few products.

(Video Editing: Wi Won-yang)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.