North Korea’s Cabinet has ordered people’s committees in major cities—including Nampo, Rason, Sinuiju and Wonsan—to dramatically increase the number of approved companies ahead of the 80th anniversary of the ruling party’s founding.
According to a Daily NK source in North Korea, the Cabinet issued administrative guidance on Aug. 23 directing people’s committees to actively approve new business establishments. The directive represents an unusually aggressive push to stimulate economic activity before the major political milestone.
The Cabinet has significantly increased each province’s company formation allocations—essentially quotas that grant permission to establish businesses in each region. These allocations were then distributed to people’s committees with clear instructions to boost registration numbers.
The focus on four specific cities reflects a calculated economic strategy, the source explained. “Nampo serves as a hub for Yellow Sea logistics and maritime traffic, Rason operates as a trade channel connecting China and Russia, Sinuiju functions as a vibrant trading region directly across from the Chinese city of Dandong, and Wonsan has been designated a special tourism zone,” the source said.
“This is clearly a move to attract foreign currency and activate regional economies through strengthened local trade and tourism centers.”
Racing against the party anniversary clock
The Cabinet has set an ambitious deadline: all implementations must be completed by Oct. 10, which marks Party Foundation Day. This timeline reveals the government’s intention to showcase increased business activity and secure additional foreign currency ahead of the major political celebration.
“It’s extremely rare for the Cabinet to assign so many allocations to specific cities with such a tight deadline,” the source noted. “This isn’t just about producing results for this year’s 80th party anniversary—it demonstrates the central government’s urgent desire to focus on securing state funds during the second half of the year.”
However, the directive comes with significant restrictions. The Cabinet emphasized that all company establishments must receive central government approval and strictly adhere to operational rules issued by the Cabinet. Officials warned that if local authorities independently approve companies or if businesses violate management regulations, the state could revoke approvals, confiscate property, and even impose criminal punishments on managers.
Local officials have mixed reactions to the new policy. While some people’s committee members view the Cabinet’s order favorably, believing it could create new economic opportunities for citizens, others express concern that threats of criminal punishment for operational violations may actually limit autonomous economic activity.
“People are hopeful that increasing company formation allocations will open new ways to make money,” the source said. “However, the state’s strict operational regulations and rules make truly free economic activity difficult.”
Despite these concerns, there’s cautious optimism among potential business founders. “Wealthy individuals and organizations wanting to establish companies remain very cautious about following operational rules properly to avoid risks,” the source explained. “But they also believe that if they follow the rules while crafting flexible operational plans suited to regional conditions, this latest measure could genuinely help stabilize people’s livelihoods.”
