Tag: regional development
What’s behind North Korea’s coal industry push?
North Korea held the second plenary session of the ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea from June 20 to 22. According...
Behind Sinuiju’s brighter nights, a widening electricity divide
Electricity supply in Sinuiju, North Pyongan province, has improved somewhat in 2026 compared with last year. Neighborhoods near provincial and city party offices, the...
Coal towns welcome North Korea housing plan
North Korea's plan to modernize coal mining towns nationwide is stirring hope among people living in some of the country's most run-down housing in...
Satellite images reveal flooded rail line in Ryanggang province
I analyzed high-resolution satellite imagery of Paekam county, in North Korea's Ryanggang province, and found that a hydroelectric dam has flooded part of a...
North Korea’s local factory policy failing to reach rural store shelves,...
Students from the North Korean city of Sinuiju who were sent to support agricultural work in rural areas have returned home shocked by the...
North Korea’s new mining and farm housing turns vacant within years
Some newly built homes in North Korea's coal mining and farming regions are being abandoned within two years of being occupied, with the empty...
North Korea’s provincial firms need autonomy, not new specifications
North Korean authorities have been pushing provincial factories to update their product specifications to improve quality and lift flagging market demand — but updating...
North Korea’s practical teaching push lays bare Pyongyang-provincial education gap
A North Korean Ministry of Education showcase intended to model a new hands-on teaching approach at vocational colleges ended up drawing more attention to...
North Korea ramps up Chinese medical equipment imports amid healthcare modernization...
North Korea is importing a growing volume of Chinese medical equipment as authorities push to modernize healthcare facilities nationwide, with demand for pharmaceutical packaging...
North Korea turns to China for cement as domestic output falls...
North Korea has significantly increased imports of Chinese cement since May 2026, as a sweeping regional construction campaign strains domestic production beyond its limits,...
