The strategy for developing regional industry will bring into stark reality the brilliant change of simultaneous, balanced and rapid development of the whole country that has been desired with faith and optimism generation after generation in the arduous and long course of struggle. The strategy is a militant banner of overall national prosperity and immortal revolutionary principles comprehensively dealing with the sacred political idea, outlook on development and transparent spirit of service of the WPK, which regards the people's laughter and happiness as a symbol of the socialist system and standard of evaluation of national power.

Since the 10th Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly, the Party Central Committee has so far made profound study of ways for ensuring the unconditional implementation of the centuries-old desire cherished and hailed by all the people across the country and, on this basis, convened an important meeting to solemnly proclaim the thoroughgoing plan and strategy for practice.

The 19th Enlarged Meeting of the Political Bureau of the 8th Central Committee of the WPK was held from Jan. 23 to 24 to confirm and clarify an epochal milestone in the development of regional industry.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, was present at the meeting.

When the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un appeared on the platform, all the participants broke into enthusiastic cheers.

They paid the highest tribute to the General Secretary of the WPK, the great pioneer and creator of the socialist civilization who is confidently bringing earlier the future of a prosperous power, where the people's dreams and ideals are fully translated into reality, with his profound ideo-theoretical activities and devoted efforts day and night.

Present at the meeting were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, members and alternate members of the Political Bureau. Officials of the relevant departments of the WPK Central Committee, chief secretaries of provincial, city and county Party committees and people's committee chairpersons, heads of the organizational departments of the provincial Party committees, officials of provincial designing organs and the Cabinet related to the construction of regional industrial factories and officials of the relevant ministries and national institutions including the State Planning Commission and major commanding officers of the Korean People's Army were on hand as observers.

Upon authorization of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Jong Un presided over the meeting.

Recalling that at the 10th Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly the WPK and the DPRK government set forth the plan of setting it as an important national policy to remodel all the regional industrial factories in cities and counties across the country and pushing ahead with it by naming it the "regional development 20×10 policy", he said:

At the first short course for chief secretaries of the city and county Party committees in March 2021, three years ago, I gave directions to set the size of the regional industry factories in Kimhwa County to suit the actual conditions of the county, build them modernly as model ones and gain experience by putting their operation on a regular basis in keeping with the specific conditions of the county to weigh their effectiveness, profitability and possibility and, on this basis, to ensure that new modern regional industry factories are built in all the cities and counties across the country in the future, so that the basic material and cultural standards of the local people could be promoted and their rights and interests fully guaranteed to open up a new era of regional development.

As I briefly introduced in the policy speech made at the Supreme People's Assembly on January 15, Kimhwa County substantially benefits from it and has made it possible for us to have a clear understanding of the possibility of developing the material and cultural life of all cities, counties and regions across the country.

In consideration of the economic situation of the country and the implementation of this enormous task, some policy leadership departments of the Party and economic bodies were paying lip service while failing to find out realistic and revolutionary possibilities. And even at the recent plenary meeting they took passive attitude by proposing to build regional industry factories in only a few cities and counties where conditions are favorable and to step up preparations for the future construction in the remaining cities and counties.

I emphasize once again that if they are caught in unfavorable subjective and objective conditions and only sit idle in this way without revolutionary determination and courage, they should admit without saying a word or an excuse that they cannot properly implement our Party’s economic development policy on reducing the difference between towns and the countryside and developing the regional economy, nor can they ever bring about a marked change in the people's standard of living.

At present, it is a very urgent immediate task for leveling up the material and cultural living standards of the regional people to adopt a revolutionary strategy and take all measures to make it possible to develop regional industry in a comprehensive and balanced way by most effectively creating and using the economic resources and raw materials of cities and counties and to promote the peculiar development of each regional economy and expand the scope of investment in it while creating a climate of competition in order to accelerate diversified growth. And this is a very important, responsible and timely option and determination in the future-oriented aspect of our Party's policy on socialist regional development.

Today, failure to satisfactorily provide the people in local areas with basic living necessities including condiments, foodstuff and consumption goods has arisen as a serious political issue that our Party and government can never sidestep, he said.

The Party's "regional development 20×10 policy", which was clarified as a administrative policy at the recent session of the Supreme People's Assembly on the basis of the acknowledgement of such realities, is neither wishful thinking nor advertisement, he said, pointing out that it is a great epochal line grounded in the guarantee for its planned execution and another gigantic revolution for realizing the primary desire of local people and bringing about a radical change in the realm of people's understanding and the work for fulfilling their centuries-old desire.

This can't be properly done with impromptu ambition and passion but can be achieved only by means of revolutionary practice and action after adopting scientific fighting strategy, correct methodology and concrete measures in a well-knit and bold way, he said.

Now that the overall regional economy is in a terrible situation without elementary conditions and there are severe imbalance and huge gaps between regions in terms of their geographical circumstances, economic potential and living circumstances, specific plans and correct methods with a good chance of practice should be put forward before being accurately implemented according to scientific calculation so that we can bring about a substantial change with which to raise the living standards of basic material and cultural life of regional people to a higher level throughout the country in a short period of time, he said.

As we are now in the course of effecting a great change for the project of developing the countryside, which was already raised, through a grand struggle, fully aware of the importance and urgency of the building of a new socialist ideal rural construction in the light of the demand of the turning phase for ushering in a period of socialist comprehensive development, it is easier said than done to undertake and strictly carry out the overall development of regional industry, another front and another great revolutionary stage, he said, adding:

But I am going to do this.

Being passive is not constitutionally suitable.

Can we do this? Yes, we can and will do it. We must do it.

I will repay the expectations of the people even a bit by bringing about a substantial change in developing regional industry without fail.

It is an important principle to be maintained by the Party at present and a political fighting task to be executed for opening up the period of overall socialist development to direct primary efforts to bridging the gaps between urban and rural areas, and central and local areas in all domains, expediting the building of civilized society where everything develops all together, promoting the wellbeing of local people and protecting their rights and interests in particular and improving the regional and rural living circumstances.

As I stressed in the last policy speech, we should not sit by and wait till the situation and conditions turn favorable but find more jobs to be faithful to our duty for the sake of the people and adopt new policies and address ourselves to bringing them into practice full of confidence by assuming a sense of heavy responsibility for ourselves.

That's why we convened this enlarged meeting to discuss and determine the issues concerning the implementation of the "regional development 20×10 policy", he said, bringing up the agenda items for discussion at the meeting.

The issue of pushing ahead with the Party's "regional development 20×10 policy" was raised as the main agenda item and measures to be taken to achieve the speedy completion of major policy-oriented building projects and the independent development of every province, city and county were discussed at the enlarged meeting.

Kim Jae Ryong, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, made a report on the main agenda item.

The reporter stressed that the "regional development 20×10 policy", which will open up an epochal turning phase in the course of struggle for the country's prosperity and people's wellbeing, is the most revolutionary strategic programme for developing regional industry as the General Secretary formulated its policy orientation with painstaking efforts for bettering the life of local people and solemnly declared it as a state policy on the basis of determination in an all-round way, ranging from the stage of experience gathering and possibilities of its accomplishment.

He referred to how the respected General Secretary made known to the world the "regional development 20×10 policy".

Saying that the new policy on developing regional industry was adopted as a supreme task, on which our Party and government should focus their attention and efforts, and a grand revolution for realizing the long-cherished desire of local people, thus making it possible to more confidently usher in the period of overall development for the country's prosperity, the reporter pointed out that the 80-odd year-long history of the Party and the 75-year history of the state have not witnessed such a policy, revolutionary, popular and original in its nature, width and depth, as the policy of developing regional industry.

Noting that the above-said policy reflects the firm determination and will of the General Secretary to radically improve the material and cultural life of the farm villagers and other regional people who will live in modern rural dwelling houses by giving complete face-lifts to the regional industry factories every year within the next decade, not in the distant future, through the implementation of the programme for the rural revolution in the new era, the reporter stressed the validity of the new regional industrial development policy and its key significance in realizing the overall national prosperity.

The perfect execution and successful conclusion in the yearly efforts for implementing the "regional development 20×10 policy" will serve as a revolutionary banner for correctly keeping to the course of state development under any circumstances, an ever-victorious weapon for achieving the already set goals without fail by focusing all-people patriotic enthusiasm on that single intention, and a motive force for more vigorously accelerating the drive for bringing about the prosperity of the country and promoting the people's well-being, and thus record a revolutionary turn in the proud annals of the history of the DPRK.

Then followed speeches.

Speeches were made by Pak Chang Ho, chief secretary of the North Hwanghae Provincial Party Committee, Jang Myong Un, chairman of the Unsan County People's Committee, Kim Myong Chol, chief secretary of the Kimhwa County Party Committee, Pak Jong Gun, vice-premier of the Cabinet and chairman of the State Planning Commission, Ri Hi Yong, first vice department director of the Party Central Committee, and Pak Jong Chon and Ri Il Hwan, secretaries of the Party Central Committee.

Expressing full support and approval for adopting as a resolution of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee the plan for implementing the most revolutionary, popular and original "regional development 20×10 policy" that vividly reflects the respected General Secretary's fervent spirit of devoted service for the people and resolute will as a great revolutionary, the speakers showed their determination to fulfill their duty in the van of the sacred cause to translate the revolutionary line of the Party Central Committee into a brilliant reality.

The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee organized sectional study and consultative meetings to take measures for tackling economic and practical issues arising in implementing the "regional development 20×10 policy".

The respected General Secretary gave invaluable instructions on the orientation of the study and consultative meetings.

He called upon all the participants to examine in detail the economic and practical issues arising in implementing the policy and orient their study to making sure that the planned important work would come to practical fruition.

He underlined the need to intensify the study and discussion with the main focus placed on taking concrete and meticulous measures to resolve such issues as the one of properly defining the order of counties on the principle of surely putting every construction project on a planned, concentrated and future-oriented basis, given that new regional industry factories are to be built in two counties of each province every year, the one of guarding against uniformity and properly setting the production indices in conformity with the economic potentialities, specialties, land sizes and populations of the relevant cities and counties, the one of training technicians and skilled workers necessary for the operation of factories in a far-sighted way, and the one of organizing construction forces and establishing a well-regulated work system and other.

The enlarged meeting organized two-day sectional study and consultative meetings in accordance with the direction of the discussion indicated by the General Secretary.

Members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee guided the study and consultative meetings.

Reasonable and feasible proposals and innovative and development-oriented opinions raised during the study and consultation were fully reflected in the draft resolution.

Jo Yong Won, secretary for Organizational Affairs of the Party Central Committee, referred the completed draft resolution to the Political Bureau.

The voting right was granted to the alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee and all observers at the enlarged meeting, as suggested by the General Secretary.

A resolution on strongly promoting the implementation of the Party's policy of regional industrial development was adopted at the enlarged meeting.

An order of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea "On mobilizing units of the People's Army for the struggle to implement the resolution of the 19th Enlarged Meeting of the Political Bureau of the 8th Central Committee of the WPK on bringing about a regional industrial revolution" was conveyed to the audience by Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the Party Central Committee.

The General Secretary signed the order and personally handed it to the chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army.

The enlarged meeting, as its next agenda items, discussed and decided on the important measures of the Party for successfully completing the major policy-oriented projects for the promotion of the people's well-being, and took technical steps to ensure the sustainable independent and smooth development of provinces, cities and counties.

The respected General Secretary made an important conclusion "On strongly promoting the implementation of the Party's 'regional development 20×10 policy'".

Expressing great satisfaction over the fact that the 19th Enlarged Meeting of the Political Bureau of the 8th Central Committee of the WPK deeply discussed and decided on the measures for implementing the "regional development 20×10 policy", which will bring about sure and rapid development of the regional economy and greatly encourage the efforts for the overall prosperity of the state, and on the issues of finishing the major policy-oriented projects earlier, he appreciated the strategic significance of the Mt Myohyang enlarged meeting.

Stressing the need to bring the above-said meaningful decisions to perfect fruition of changes and revolutions without fail through bold action and practice by preserving the tradition and mettle of struggle peculiar to the Korean revolution, which is run through with uninterrupted innovations and advance, he mentioned the important issues arising in implementing the policies discussed and decided at the Political Bureau meeting.

Urging the leading officials of the Party and the government to fulfill their mission and duty in most thoroughly and perfectly implementing the resolution of the meeting, regarding the deep trust by tens of millions of people as lifeblood, so as to make the people's happy laughter resound everywhere on this land, he ardently called for working hard for the new revolutionary results of our great cause, for the overall development of socialism and for the wellbeing of the great people with great confidence and courage.

The conclusion of the General Secretary deeply impressed the participants in the meeting as it clearly taught them how sincerely the WPK, which has glorified its longest history as the ruling party amid the absolute support and trust of the popular masses, should work for the great people and what sincerity and ability for devoted implementation they should display for the destiny and future of the people.

All the participants expressed full support and approval with cheers and applause to the important conclusion of the respected General Secretary, which unveiled the most scientific operation plan and clear methodology for successfully carrying out with due care the gigantic tasks of epochal changes to bring about dynamic development in all regions and turn them into the ideal ones for the people as required by the status and position of a powerful country.

When we make 2024 a year of great changes and make uninterrupted successes in the next decade, true to the main spirit of the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau to raise the standard of living of the people across the country to a substantially higher level and further accelerate the overall development of socialism through the powerful promotion of the regional industry revolution, we will clearly demonstrate before history and the world what self-reliance, the great tradition of the Korean revolution, is and what our style socialism centered on the popular masses is.

The enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, held amid the great expectations and attention of all the Party members and other people and service personnel, will shine long in history as a great political event that further highlighted the revolutionary nature and popular character of the WPK, which regards the people-first principle as its supreme programme and the basic fighting principle, and paved a broad avenue to the historic regional development for fulfilling the century-old desire of the people.