Kim Jong Un sees significant improvement in country’s economy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed satisfaction with the country’s economic performance at a ruling party meeting, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

The agency said that North Korea discussed five items on the agenda at the recent party meeting, including an interim review of the implementation of state policies for this year, and the issue of enforcing work discipline in key sectors.

“In the first half of this year, it can be felt that the country’s economic conditions are improving significantly, compared with the previous year,” the agency quoted Kim as saying.

“The agricultural situation across the country is pretty good so far,” he added.

Crop production in the north is estimated to have increased by 310,000 tonnes year-on-year to 4.82 million tonnes last year, according to the country’s Rural Development Administration.

Kim noted that the country will see the completion of new modern production bases in 20 cities and towns by the end of this year, referring to North Korea’s project to build modern factories in 20 towns.

On another note, North Korea made changes among party officials at the meeting, with Kim Jong-sun appointed as a department director in the party’s Central Committee, a rare move to appoint a woman to the position, the agency said.

Source: Yonhap