Did North Korea's leader inspect a greenhouse farm construction site for his first field guidance of 2026?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Seoul, Jan 3 (NationPress) The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, conducted an inspection of the construction site for a greenhouse farm located in the northwestern city of Sinuiju during his inaugural 'field guidance' of the year, as reported by state media from Pyongyang on Saturday.
On the previous day, Kim traveled via his private train to the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm, where construction is reportedly nearing completion, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea has embarked on developing a significant greenhouse farm across expansive areas of Wihwa Island, an islet in Sinuiju, which experienced considerable flooding during the summer of 2024.
Since the groundbreaking ceremony for the farm in February 2024, Kim has made five visits to the construction site, with his latest visit occurring in late November, as noted by the Yonhap news agency.
In his address, Kim commended the builders for their dedicated efforts to transform the island area, which was once heavily impacted by natural disasters, into a model greenhouse town that represents a new era within a span of over 500 days, as stated by the KCNA.
He remarked, "The extensive construction project and the installation of greenhouse equipment have been completed flawlessly, and the landscaping of the area is currently thriving in its final phase."
Additionally, Kim conveyed his "strong determination to ambitiously plan initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being of the populace nationwide and radically transforming various regions, while diligently executing these plans," according to the report.
The selection of this site for his first field inspection of the year aligns with Pyongyang's intensified efforts to achieve the national goals outlined during the 2021 party congress, in anticipation of the upcoming ninth party congress.
During the next congress, expected to occur in February, Pyongyang is anticipated to unveil another five-year plan that will detail its primary policy positions, akin to the previous five-year economic development framework introduced in 2021.