Industry - Korean Friendship Association

The DPRK’s industry is based on the socialist ownership of the means of production and geared to developing the country and meeting the independent demand and interests of the people.

The socialist industry, a Juche-oriented and independent industry, is developing in a planned and well-balanced way and at a sustained high rate.

The principle of establishing a diversified structure of industrial production, laying reliable domestic bases of raw materials and equipping the industry with up-to-date technology is consistently maintained in the building of the socialist industry.

Solid heavy industry bases with the machine-building industry as the backbone and up-to-date light industry bases have been built and renovated along modern lines while the production of processed materials has been developed rapidly using domestic natural resources.

The policy of giving priority to the development of heavy industry, making combination of renovation and construction in industrial development, coordinating parallel development of central and local industries, making a rational distribution of industries and making the most of the existing production bases has been implemented.

Heavy Industry

The DPRK’s policy regarding the construction of heavy industry is to develop an independent and modern heavy industry.

What is important is to preferentially develop heavy industry and make it contribute to the development of light industry and rural economy. The point in developing heavy industry is to equip all its manufacturers with modern technology and promote a diversified growth with the use of domestic natural resources and raw materials.

Electric-Power Industry

Precedence is given to the electric-power industry, the major source of power of the national economy.

The State maintains the policy of giving precedence to construction of hydropower stations while carrying on thermal power projects proportionately, and building large-sized power stations by State investment along with smalland medium-sized ones that rely on local resources.

Many hydropower stations of varying sizes have been built, such as the Anbyon Youth Power ·Station, Nyongwon Power Station, Orangchon Power Station, Unit 1 of the Ryesonggang Youth Power Station and Samsu Power Station.

In April 2016 the Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station was built.
Paying close concern to resolving the problem of electricity in building an economic giant, the country is pushing forward the construction of the largesized Tanchon Power Station and striving for the use of atomic energy.

It is steadily increasing the generation of electricity by using wind power, tidal power, biomass and solar energy, expanding the scope of the use of renewable energy.

Huichon Power Station
The project began in Juche 98 (2009) and finished in April Juche 101 (2012). The Huichon Power Station is a monumental edifice of the era of the Workers’ Party, completed by the KPA soldier builders and other people.

It supplies electricity to Pyongyang and different sectors of the national economy.

Mining Industry

The mining industry, the first process of the national economy, is definitely kept ahead of the processing industry.

The State makes sure that precedence is given to geological prospecting and that scientific research is pushed ahead dynamically.

Efforts are concentrated on mines that have plenty of deposits and favourable conditions for mining. New mines are developed extensively under a long-term plan. Precedence is given to construction of pits, tunnelling and earth-removing ahead of mining. Pits are made permanent with concrete, which is fundamental to increased output.

With the development of science and technology mineral production processes are improving steadily.

Korea is quite rich in coal deposits. Major collieries turn out an enormous amount of coal. Many promising coal fields are developed in the northern and central parts of the country and its inland areas.

The Musan Mining Complex, a gigantic open mine producing iron ore, has mechanized and modernized all the processes of mining, hauling and dressing.

High-grade iron ore is produced in the west coastal area of Korea.

Having developed non-ferrous metal mines in several districts, the Komdok Mining Complex is increasing production.

High-quality graphite and rare-earth minerals which are in huge deposits in the country are developed and utilized.

In the Tanchon area of South Hamgyong Province is a magnesite mine with more than half the global deposits.

The March 5 Youth Mine and other modern non-ferrous metal mines are found in Ryanggang Province, Jagang Province and other areas with promising deposits.

The Anbyon Silicon-Potash Fertilizer Plant and phosphatic fertilizer plants, built on a modern footing, produce and supply fertilizers using domestic resources.

Mines have laid large-sized, long-distance conveyor belts and cableways which take the lion’s share in transport.

The solid foundation and development of the mining industry enable it to meet the domestic demands for various minerals and strengthen the Juche character and independence of the industry.

The Musan Mining Complex

At the threshold of the 2000s the complex built a large conical crushing ground and renovated dressing plants. The development and introduction of advanced methods and cutting-edge technology resulted in the modernization of the operation of both the large-sized cone crusher and earth-removing conveyor belt.

A Promising, Youthful Mine

Situated at a high altitude, the Ryongchon Mine has good prospects for its rich mineral deposits and favourable mining conditions. The newly-built dressing plant is well furnished, consisting of the processes of crushing, grinding and flotation.

Precedence is given to the prospecting and expansion of the mining capacity in boosting the ore production. Dozens of modern houses were built in the mine.

Metal Industry

The metal industry is developing on an independent and modern foundation. The completion of the structural formation of the metal industry and the steadily increasing rate of domestic raw materials and fuels used in iron- and steelmaking industry are strengthening the independence of the industry.

The Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex, the Chollima Steel Complex and the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex have been modernized and equipped with up-to-date technology and CNC technology is introduced into the production lines.

The Juche-based system of producing iron has been established and a new base for the production of alloy steel built, with the result that there is an increase in the production of alloy steel and standardized steel and the structure of metallurgies industry is being revamped.

Machine-Building Industry

The DPRK’s machine-building industry has made sustained development as
the backbone of the heavy industry.

Steady efforts have been made to apply modern technology into the heavy industry equipment such as machine tools, precision machines, extracting machines and power-generating equipment, the light industry equipment including the spinning and weaving machinery and food-processing equipment and all kinds of vehicles of transport such as trucks and ships.

Today the country’s machine-building industry produces complete sets of equipment of modern factories, large-sized machines including 10 000-ton press, super-pressure presses and large-sized oxygen plants and automatic machines-all by itself. The rate of stamp forging and pressing methods has risen in the production of machinery, and innovations have taken place in the fields of casting, welding, tool and insulating material; robots and the flexible manufacturing system are in wide use.

Efforts have been channelled into developing machine tools to break through the cutting edge in the machine-building industry.

In the 1980s the country developed a NC machine tool, the progenitor of CNC machines, and in the 1990s a CNC four-axis electric-wire discharge machine.

Recently a nine-axis turning centre of a new type has been developed and a process has gone online to produce such machines in a serial way. An excellent parent machine for processing the main body of machine tools has been made. Bases for the production of electronic apparatuses and automation elements have been set up and the modernization of tool factories accelerated so as to produce evaporation tools and various kinds of latest measuring equipment and tools. This is giving renewed impetus to the introduction of CNC technology.
High-performance compressors and geothermal equipment are being produced.

Chemical Industry

The DPRK’s chemical industry has developed into an independent, modern and all-round industry.

Inorganic and organic chemical industries are developed in a well-balanced way; all sectors of modern chemical industry have been established.
The country’s chemical industry is structurally based on the use of domestic raw materials.

At present it is oriented towards solution of the problems of raw materials, fuel and food production in line with the global trend of economic development.
The Juche-based lines for producing fertilizer and vinalon have been built, using coal as a material for chemical industry, as well as a source of energy.

The country has put the production of fertilizer, vinalon and basic chemical products on a regular footing, and it is focusing on the development of bioactive fertilizer and composite fertilizer of high concentration. It also presses on with the technical upgrading of chemical industry in the direction of reducing power consumption and removing pollution, and is building new chemical factories fed by local resources. And it is establishing a C1 chemical industry based on coal gasification, setting up a carbonization process using brown coal, and perfecting the sodium carbonate industry with glauberite as the starting material.

Building-Materials Industry

The independent, modern building-materials industry has struck roots and the production of building materials has increased in step with capital construction.

The existing building-materials factories are in rational operation while new ones are under construction proportionately. Large-scale national enterprises and small- and medium-sized local factories are developing in a balanced way. Prefabrication is done on an industrial basis.

Plants with great capacities including the Sangwon Cement Complex and the Sunchon Cement Complex have been built up, which satisfactorily supply cement to construction projects across the country. Meanwhile, the production bases of metal building materials, chemical building materials, plastics building materials, building stones, fittings, glass, prefabrication, finishing materials and ceramic materials have been upgraded to fully meet the growing demands.

The country is making efforts to ensure the specialized and traditional production of building materials and diversify their range and types by relying on latest technology.
Most recently, the Aeguk Stone Dressing Plant-which relies on a rich stock of natural resources-has been erected, and a large-scale tile factory has expanded its capacity, thus playing a big role in sprucing up buildings suited to the requirements of the times and the aesthetic feelings of the people.

Chollima General Building-Materials Factory

Located in the suburbia of Pyongyang, it is a large building-materials producer with a wide product range of various forms, sizes and colors plastic and aluminum windows, iron roofing, insulated plywood, plastic pipes, foamed plastics, iron fences, wire netting, lightweight steel structures, blocks, outdoor chairs, backstop for basketball, mortar, washing sand, gravel, acetylene gas and oxygen.
All production lines for iron roofing, lightweight steel structures, plastic materials and others have been put on a modern, automatic footing to ensure high productivity and good quality.

The factory has built subsidiary lines for the production of metal fittings and fixtures and lightweight furniture, as part of its effort to ensure the diversity of forms, kinds and colors of its products.

Light Industry

The DPRK, setting light industry as a major thrust of the effort to build an economic power and improve the people’s living standards, is prioritizing its development.

With the simultaneous development of the state-run and local industries, up-to-date light industry factories have been built up in all parts of the country in a short span of time. With the use of domestic raw materials, the varieties of consumer goods have increased and their costs lowered.

The production of seasonings and essential consumer goods is boosted in line with light industry’s level of development and the people’s demands and their quality is improved. Further, functional articles are developed as the capacity of development of new products rises. The modernization of production facilities and processes and the scientification of business activities are stepped up and a leap is made in introducing CNC and full automation technologies into production lines. A processing trade with foreign countries is also developed.

Modern light-industry factories and locally-run factories have been built in different parts of the country, rendering a contribution to improving the people’s standard of living. Typical examples are Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill, Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Silk Mill, Sinuiju Textile Mill, Phyongsong Artificial Leather Factory, Ryuwon Footwear Factory, Wonsan Leather Shoes Factory, Pyongyang Hosiery Factory, Ryongaksan Soap Factory, Mindulle Notebook Factory, Pyongyang Mechanical Pencil Factory, Pyongyang Bag Factory, Hamhung Honoured Disabled Soldiers’ Essential Plastic Goods Factory, Ryugyong Mushroom Farm, Jongbangsan Mushroom Farm, Pyongyang Children’s Foodstuff Factory, Pyongyang Cornstarch Factory and Changsong Foodstuff Factory.

Textile

Recently the Tetron rayon workshop has gone into operation at the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill, laying the solid foundation for
mass-producing cloth. And at the Pyongyang Hosiery Factory, a modern women’s hosiery workshop has been newly built and the men’s hosiery workshop renovated. At the Sinuiju Textile Mill, a knitting yarn workshop has been set up in less than one year.

The Nyongbyon Silk Mill has doubled its silk goods production by inventing a new method of producing glossy ramie cloth and introducing the process of producing figured satin with a new raw material. All the textile mills in the country have introduced the techniques by which to produce cloth with flexible shaft looms.

Foodstuff
The Pyongyang Wheat Flour Processing Factory was renovated, with the reconstruction of its cake, flour and yeast workshops, construction of a twist workshop and an integrated automation room, and introduction of CNC technology and sterilization in the large continuous production processes.
All the production lines of the Pyongyang Cornstarch Factory, from raw materials feeding to packaging, are fully furnished with modern equipment.

Built in all provinces are general foodstuff factories, such as Kumkhop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspeople, Kumsong Foodstuff Factory, Sonhung Foodstuff Factory and Ryugyong Kimchi Factory. Even the Changsong Foodstuff Factory, a small local outfit, is equipped with the modern production process of supercritical extraction.

The public catering service sector is pursuing a business strategy of creativeness and diversification and improving the quality of service to ensure maximum comfort and benefit for the people.
Public catering and other welfare service facilities are distributed in different places for the convenience of the residents.

Commercial, public catering and other welfare service networks are being upgraded as demanded by the new century. The commercial networks in Ryomyong Street, Mirae Scientists Street and Changjon Street, and Pothonggang Department Store, Pyongyang Children’s Department Store, Munsu Water Park, Ryugyong Health Complex and Ryugyong Jangmi Health Complex were built in Pyongyang. The renovated facilities include the Kwangbok Area Supermarket, Changgwang Health Complex, Pyongyang Department Store No. 1, Pyongyang Underground Shop, Okryu Restaurant and Chongnyu Restaurant.

There are district (city and county) retail shops and housewives’ welfare service bases. The commercial service facilities have been put on a modern and scientific footing and rational management and business strategies are applied in service.