hankyoreh

On Oct. 9

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un conducted on-the-spot guidance at a “general seed research and development base” operated by the Korean People’s Army, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Oct. 9.

After working-level negotiations with US in Stockholm ended without an agreement, Kim’s first activities in the public eye were related to the economy, with agricultural modernization a key focus. Kim’s public visit was reported 28 days after his Sept. 10 instruction for test-firing of a “super-large rocket launcher.” It was also his first economically related on-the-spot guidance since a visit to a Yangdok County hot spring tourism district construction site was reported on Aug. 31.

the Rodong Sinmun reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un conducted on-the-spot guidance at a “general seed research and development base” operated by the Korean People’s Army. (Yonhap News)

The report, which was published on the front page of that day’s edition of the Rodong Sinmun (the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of Korea, or WPK) along with 17 photographs, stated that Kim provided “on-the-spot guidance at the No. 1116 farm affiliated with People’s Army Unit 810.” It added the site was a “test farm for the party’s central [committee]” and a “general seed reach and development base for the state.” Kim has shown particular interest in the farm, which he has visited for on-the-spot guidance every year since 2013 (apart from 2014).

On Oct. 9

The newspaper reported Kim as stressing the need to “breed and develop more outstanding, world-class varieties and achieve a decisive shift in terms of resolving the people’s food and eating issues.” For his instruction visit to the seed R&D base, Kim was accompanied by a number of high-ranking WPK, government, and military officials, including Pak Pong Ju, the WPK’s vice chairman for the economy, as well as Kim Yo-jong and Hyon Song-wol, both first vice directors for the party.

the Rodong Sinmun reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un conducted on-the-spot guidance at a “general seed research and development base” operated by the Korean People’s Army. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]