20x10 Policy

20×10 Regional Development Policy (Korean: 20×10 지역발전 정책) is a regional development program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced in January 2024 under the leadership of Kim Jong Un. It aims to build modern industrial factories in 20 cities and counties per year over a 10-year period with the stated goal of improving living standards outside Pyongyang and reducing disparities between regions.[1][2]

Background

Regional inequality has been a recurring issue in North Korea since the economic crises of the 1990s, with resources disproportionately concentrated in Pyongyang and selected provincial centers.[3] At the Eighth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2021, Kim Jong Un signaled a new emphasis on balanced regional growth, with Kimhwa County designated as a pilot site.[1]

The “20×10” slogan was later adopted to encapsulate the nationwide expansion of this policy: 20 localities per year for 10 years, symbolizing both scale and long-term commitment.[2]

Objectives

Analysts and state media identify the main objectives of the 20×10 Policy as:[1][3][2]

  • industrial modernisation through construction of light-industry factories producing food, clothing, paper, and daily necessities,
  • balanced development to narrow the gap between Pyongyang and rural provinces,
  • integration of local factories with research and educational institutions,
  • self-sufficiency by reducing reliance on imports under sanctions, and
  • strengthening political legitimacy through visible economic projects.

Implementation

The policy was formally launched at the Tenth Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly in January 2024.[4][3]

According to 38 North, implementation included the reorganisation of a central committee mechanism for regional industrial modernisation, mobilisation of the Workers’ Party and the Korean People's Army (including a dedicated construction regiment), and the selection of the first 20 localities across Kangwon, South Pyongan, and North Hwanghae provinces.[1][5][6]

By early 2025, DPRK media claimed the completion of multiple facilities in the first batch of counties, including clothing factories, food-processing plants, and housing complexes.[2][7]

  1. A central committee mechanism for regional industrial modernization was reorganized to oversee the plan.[1]
  2. The Workers’ Party and Korean People's Army were mobilised to provide labour, materials, and logistics (including creating a dedicated construction regiment).[5]
  3. The first 20 localities, including counties in Kangwon, South Pyongan, and North Hwanghae provinces, began factory construction in 2024.[6]

By early 2025, DPRK media reported the completion of multiple facilities in the first batch of counties, including clothing factories, food processing plants, and housing complexes.[2][8]

List of projects under the 20×10 Policy

Year Locality Province/Municipality Project Type(s) Status Key Date(s) Notes
2024 Songchon County South Pyongan Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Groundbreaking: 29 Feb 2024; Inauguration: 20 Dec 2024 First groundbreaking and inauguration under 20×10.[9][10][5]
2024 Jaeryong County South Hwanghae Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 7 Jan 2025 Early-2025 opening, part of 2024 tranche.[11][12]
2024 Jangphung County Kaesong Municipality Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 1 Feb 2025 Kaesong-area county site.[13]
2024 Kujang County North Pyongan Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 24 Jan 2025 Opened with mass events.[14][2]
2024 Kyongsong County North Hamgyong Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 12 Jan 2025 Opening covered by state/affiliate media.[15][2]
2024 Tongsin County Chagang Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 5 Feb 2025 Remote mountainous county.[13]
2024 Kim Hyong Jik County Ryanggang Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 11 Feb 2025 Last of the Year-1 inaugurations.[16][2]
2024 Yonthan County North Hwanghae Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Opened late 2024 / early 2025 Among earliest focus localities.[5]
2024 Usi County Chagang Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Opened late 2024 / early 2025 Clothing factory shown in official media round-ups.[14]
2024 Kosan County Kangwon Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Opened late 2024 / early 2025 Part of first 20 sites (2024 tranche).[6]
2024 Onchon County (Nampo) Nampo Municipality Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Operational by mid-2025 Products exhibited in Pyongyang; inauguration reports in Jan 2025.[14][17]
2024 Unchon County South Hwanghae Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Operational by mid-2025 Household goods shown at exhibitions.[14]
2024 Unsan County North Pyongan Province Garment; Light industry Completed / Operational Operational by mid-2025 Garments shown at spring exhibitions.[18]
2024 Sukchon County South Pyongan Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 8 Jan 2025 Opening covered by DPRK outlets.[17]
2024 Kumya County South Hamgyong Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Inauguration: 3 Feb 2025 One of the larger year-one sites.[13]
2024 Kusong City North Pyongan Province Foodstuff; Garment; Daily-necessities Completed / Operational Factories opened late 2024 / early 2025 Factories plus hospital project (2025) announced.[2]
2025 Kangdong County Pyongyang Municipality County hospital; Leisure complex; Factories Under construction Groundbreaking: 6 Feb 2025; Guidance: 3 Jun 2025 Flagship Year-2 project.[19][20]
2025 Sinyang County South Pyongan Province Regional-industry factories Under construction Groundbreaking: 24 Feb 2025 Year-2 batch.[21]
2025 Koksan County North Hwanghae Province Regional-industry factories Under construction Groundbreaking: 24 Feb 2025 Year-2 batch.[22]
2025 Kusong City North Pyongan Province City hospital Under construction Groundbreaking: 24 Feb 2025 Add-on to 2024 factories.[23][21]
2025 Jongphyong County South Hamgyong Province Regional-industry factories; Leisure complex Under construction Groundbreaking: 24 Feb 2025 Year-2 batch.[24][21]
2025 Ragwon County South Hamgyong Province Offshore fish farm; Fishermen’s housing Completed / Operational Groundbreaking: 15 Feb 2025; Completion: 27 Aug 2025 Aquaculture project under 20×10.[25][26]
2025 Ryonggang County (Nampo) Nampo Municipality County hospital; Factories Announced / Planned Announced: Feb 2025 Planned Year-2 package per state media summaries.[21]
2025 Hwangju County North Hwanghae Province Grain management station Under construction Groundbreaking reported: 26 Feb 2025 Non-factory facility type within 20×10 scope.[27][28]

Reception

State media described the policy as a “historic turning point” in socialism, promising a “great transformation” in people’s material and cultural life.[2]

External analysts have raised concerns regarding feasibility (sustaining operations under sanctions), centralisation of decision-making in Pyongyang,[29] selection of strategically significant counties over poorer areas,[30] and the long-term sustainability of new factories.[1]

According to 38 North, the program, if sustained, could represent one of the most ambitious regional development drives since the Chollima Movement of the 1950s.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Kang, Hojye (2024-08-02). "North Korea's Regional Development: The Long Journey Toward "20x10 Policy"". 38 North. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Williams, Martyn; Iliana Ragnone (2025-02-27). "Kim Jong Un's 20×10 Project Achieves Year One Successes". 38 North. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  3. ^ a b c Choi, Jong Kun (2024-02-02). ""20×10 Regional Development Policy": Background and Implications (CO24-10)" (PDF). Korea Institute for National Unification. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  4. ^ Lee, Min Joo (2024-02-13). "What's Driving Kim Jong Un's New Regional Development Policy?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  5. ^ a b c d Williams, Martyn; Iliana Ragnone (2025-03-26). "The 20×10 Project Begins: Songchon and Yonthan". 38 North. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  6. ^ a b c Zwirko, Colin (2024-03-11). "North Korea starts building factories in all 20 cities and counties for rural development". NK News. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  7. ^ "KCNA Report on Successfully Completing First Year's Task for Implementing Regional Development 20×10 Policy". KCNA Watch (KCNA.kp English). 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  8. ^ "KCNA Report on Successfully Completing First Year's Task for Implementing Regional Development 20×10 Policy". KCNA Watch (KCNA.kp English). 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  9. ^ "An inauguration ceremony of regional-industry factories in Songchon County" (PDF). The Pyongyang Times (PDF). 2024-12-22. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  10. ^ Shin, Hyonhee (2024-12-20). "North Korea's Kim calls for stronger rural economies, state media says". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  11. ^ "N. Korean leader attends factory openings in Jaeryong County". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  12. ^ "Inauguration Ceremony of Regional-industry Factories in Jaeryong County Held". KCNA Watch (KCNA.kp English). 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  13. ^ a b c "Grand construction struggle in 2025 launched to implement Regional Development 20×10 Policy" (PDF). The Pyongyang Times (PDF). 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  14. ^ a b c d "Korea 2025 (No. 2) – Inaugurations round-up" (PDF). SolidNet. February 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  15. ^ "Kyongsong industrial factories inaugurated". Yonhap via Korean-Vibe. 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  16. ^ "Completion of the 20th Local Industrial Factory in Kim Hyong Jik County". Explore DPRK (KCNA-derived). 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  17. ^ a b "Inauguration ceremony of regional-industry factories in Sukchon County (concurrent inaugurations cited)". OANA / KCNA. 2025-01-10. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  18. ^ "North Korea breaks ground on six new factories in a week". NK News. 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  19. ^ "N. Korean leader promises new hospitals, fewer gaps between rural and urban regions". The Korea Herald. 2025-02-07. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  20. ^ "Kim Jong Un Gives Field Guidance at Hospital and Leisure Complex under Construction in Kangdong County". Explore DPRK (KCNA-derived). 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  21. ^ a b c d "Strategic cruise missile drill… (notes Feb 24 groundbreakings incl. Sinyang)" (PDF). The Pyongyang Times (PDF). 2025-03-01. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  22. ^ "Groundbreaking ceremonies in Sinyang & Koksan; Kusong hospital; Jongphyong complex". The Pyongyang Times (Economy blog). 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  23. ^ "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Gives Field Guidance at Construction Site of Kusong City Hospital". KCNA Watch (Ministry of Public Health, EN). 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  24. ^ "DPRK launches major local development projects under 20×10 policy". Explore DPRK. 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  25. ^ Shin, Hyonhee (2024-12-29). "North Korea's Kim lauds new fish farm, calls for regional development". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  26. ^ "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Completed Ragwon County Offshore Farm and Fishing-Village Residential District". KCNA Watch (KCNA.kp English). 2025-08-27. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  27. ^ "Groundbreaking of regional-industry factories and grain management station of Hwangju County". KCNA Watch (KCNA.kp English). 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  28. ^ "20×10 Factories: Different Locations, Similar Products". 38 North. 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  29. ^ Zwirko, Colin (2024-09-18). "With 20×10 policy, Kim Jong Un seizes control of local development from regions". NK PRO. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  30. ^ Zwirko, Colin (2025-03-12). "What to know about the North Korean towns chosen for 2025 development push". NK PRO. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.