North Korea is building new local industrial factories nationwide under its “Regional Development 20×10 Policy.” The policy calls for building modern factories in 20 cities and counties every year for a decade, but many of the plants cannot produce normally as they lack raw materials and face chronic power shortages. As a result, factory workers are being sent to mobilization work instead of production.
A source in Ryanggang province told Daily NK on Friday that the state’s push for regional development brought new factories to each region, including food, daily necessities and garment plants. But the source said “factories where production is actually taking place are rare” as the authorities are mobilizing some factory workers to construction sites and rural areas while others are sent to mines.
In some parts of Ryanggang province, factory workers have reportedly been sent to magnesite mines in Tanchon, South Hamgyong province. The postings last for extended periods.
Authorities mobilized one recently married factory worker to the Tanchon mines for months. He rarely comes home and his new wife complains, “It’s hard even to see my husband’s face.” The factories were newly built, the source added, but workers spend more time at mobilization sites than at production sites.
Factories built, but rarely running
North Korea has long run local industrial factories that produce food and daily necessities, but prolonged economic difficulties and aging facilities have reportedly halted production at many factories or sharply cut their output.
Despite this, North Korean authorities are pressing ahead with the Regional Development 20×10 Policy. Officials aim to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties every year with a view to raise North Koreans’ basic material and cultural living standards within a decade.
New factories alone have not solved the problem. Raw materials and electricity remain insufficient, so production is inevitably disrupted. Factory buildings and equipment are in place, but actual operating days remain limited, so workers are reportedly mobilized again and again for construction projects or farm work instead of production.
“The factories were newly built, but workers are sent out for mobilization more often than they work in production,” the source said. “Unless the raw material and electricity problems are resolved, it won’t be easy to normalize production.”
Even when factories produce goods and sell them cheaply, North Korean people avoid buying them because of poor quality.
“Factory made fermented soybean or chili paste costs about 3,000 won per kilogram, but people rarely buy it,” the source said. “Homemade paste costs far more, 30,000 won per kilogram, but many people still seek it out.”
Homemade food tastes better and is higher quality than factory made food, according to the prevailing view. North Korean people with more money to spare often buy homemade food despite the price gap, the source explained.
Authorities reportedly supply unsold factory made food to military units and shock brigades — labor units mobilized for state construction and other projects — among others.
Reporting from inside North Korea
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August 10, 2026 at 02:24AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)