North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song has forcefully declared a new development initiative a top state priority. He specifically highlighted the “Regional Development 20X10 Policy” during a weekend ceremony. This announcement significantly underscores the leadership’s focus on provincial modernization. Consequently, the drive signals a major shift toward addressing economic disparities nationwide.
Pak delivered his remarks at a Pyongwon County construction site on Saturday. He urged officials to devote themselves completely to implementing these ambitious plans. Furthermore, he called for patriotic strength to make this year pivotal. The Premier explicitly framed the current period as a new year for a regional revolution. This regional revolution now sits at the heart of the government’s proclaimed agenda.
State media broadcast Pak’s speech across the country on Sunday. The Korean Central News Agency provided detailed coverage of the event. Accordingly, the reports aim to mobilize both bureaucratic and public support. The policy itself aims to build modern plants in twenty localities annually. Ultimately, the decade-long plan seeks to narrow the urban-rural development gap.
Leader Kim Jong-un originally launched this comprehensive policy earlier in 2024. Kim has recently attended several similar groundbreaking events himself. For instance, he visited a South Hwanghae Province project site just last week. These appearances clearly demonstrate the initiative’s importance to the ruling party. Moreover, they build momentum ahead of an expected key party congress this month.
Analysts often view such campaigns as tools for consolidating domestic unity. The push for a regional revolution addresses longstanding provincial grievances. Simultaneously, it diverts attention from international sanctions and economic pressures. The government likely hopes visible infrastructure projects will boost public morale. Therefore, this domestic focus serves multiple strategic political purposes.
The upcoming party congress will probably formalize these economic directives. Observers will watch for specific resource allocation and project timelines. However, the nation’s chronic resource shortages pose a serious implementation challenge. Past modernization drives have frequently struggled with consistent execution. Nevertheless, the leadership continues to prioritize this latest regional revolution.
Future success hinges on sustained investment and technical capacity. The state must channel materials and expertise to twenty different counties each year. This logistical effort will test the government’s centralized planning systems. International experts remain skeptical about the plan’s feasibility. They note the country’s persistent difficulties in managing large-scale distributed projects.
Ultimately, the policy represents a clear acknowledgment of internal inequality. The drive for a regional revolution aims to stabilize the system through development. Premier Pak’s emphatic speech reinforces this message as a unifying call. The coming months will reveal the first tangible results of this ambitious provincial focus.
