Archive for the ‘Light Industry’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Kim Jong-il provides field guidance at the Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 product exhibition

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
2011-8-10

Kim Jong Il is stressing the importance of the production of commodities for the North Korean people through upgrading the country’s light industry.

On August 1, an editorial in the Rodong Sinmun, “Let’s Go Full Speed Ahead with the Light Industry to Maximize the Production of Commodities,” mentioned the second product exhibition at the Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 as an exposition of “the growing development of light industry.”

The article emphasized Kim Jong Il’s second visit to the exhibition of commodities at the department store, “With the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, our fatherly leader, revolutionary transition to improve the production of daily commodities must be put into full effect.” Kim’s recent field guidance at the exhibition hint at the state’s increasing efforts to improve the living standards of the population.

The newspaper also reiterated the significance of the exhibition stating, “The second exhibition of commodities at the Pyongyang Department Store corroborated the policies and the legitimacies of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), aimed at improving the living standards of the people through continuous revolution and progress in the light industry of the country.”

In addition, the news mentioned, “Under the leadership of the WPK, the light industry products at this exhibition displayed the spirit of Juche and modernization at the forefront in building an economically powerful nation.” It also explained a variety of about 1,400 “high quality” light industry products were manufactured by 350 central and regional light industry factories, companies, affiliated units, department stores in Pyongyang, and comprehensive industrial product shops.

The newspaper also praised the exhibition to provide an, “Important opportunity to improve the lives of the people while parading the great national spirit, creativity, and ability.” It added, “The product exhibition has become an important turning point to revitalize the production of daily commodities of the people and revealed brilliant prospects for the future development of the light industry of our country.”

Thus, this year was depicted as an important year for light industry. The development of light industry was described as an unwavering goal of the workers and the party members to succeed in the march for improving the lives of the people by 2012 and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the DPRK founding leader’s birthday.

Share

Posted in Light Industry, Manufacturing, Worker's Party | Comments Closed

Kaesong production up nearly 20% over same period last year

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

According to Yonhap:

Trade volume between South and North Korea reached US$825 million in the first six months of the year, up 19.5 percent compared to the same period last year, the Unification Ministry said Wednesday.

The cross-border trade volume jumped more than 135 percent compared to the January-June period in 2009, the ministry said.

The figure suggests that a joint industrial complex in the North’s border city of Kaesong, a key source of inter-Korean trade, has not been affected by South Korea’s sanctions imposed on the North for its two deadly attacks on the South last year.

The industrial complex, an achievement of the first-ever inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in 2000, combines South Korea’s capital and technology with the North’s cheap labor.

More than 47,000 North Koreans work at about 120 South Korean firms operating in the industrial zone to produce clothes, utensils, watches and other goods.

South and North Korea have recently raised the minimum monthly wage for the North Korean workers by 5 percent this year to US$63.814, according to the ministry.

Previous posts on the Kaesong Industrial Zone can be found here.

Read the full story here:
Inter-Korean trade via joint industrial zone increases 19 pct in H1
Yonhap
Kim Kwang-tae
2011-8-3

Share

Posted in International trade, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), Labor conditions/wages, Light Industry, Manufacturing, Special Economic Zones (Established before 2013) | Comments Closed

Science and technology and improving the lives of the North Korean people

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
NK Brief 2011.06.30

North Korea designated this year as the “year of light industry” in an effort to increase consumer goods production and enhance the lives of the people. In addition, a June 23 editorial in the Rodong Sinmun reiterated the importance of science and technology for building a strong and powerful nation and improving the lives of citizens.

Science and technology was mentioned as one of the three pillars for building a strong and powerful nation — the other two being ideology and advanced weaponry.

The editorial emphasized, “We must construct a self-reliant economy and stand on our own two feet no matter what,” and stressed that production system of Juche steel and Juche fertilizers is a victory for the Juche ideology and the science and technology policy of North Korea.

In addition, the column highlighted the importance of promoting Juche, modernization, and informatization in all sectors. “Modern successes in science and technology must be fully adopted and institutionalized in order to enhance production and economic effectiveness. To do so, we must engage in the fight for conserving energy, fuels, materials and national resources.”

The role of scientists and technicians was also accentuated. The future development of science and technology and construction of a strong and powerful economy was depicted to be in the hands of this group. In particular, importance for science research in light industry, agriculture, people’s economy, and modernization for industries was further highlighted.

“To meet the demand of modern times of integrating science and technology and production, technological revolutionary movement must be started and combine the collective knowledge of producers and masses.” It was said that the core and fundamental technology (information, nano, and bioengineering technologies) along with cutting-edge technology (new materials, energy, and space science technologies) must be incorporated to fully contribute to the building of a powerful socialist state.

This editorial appears as an attempt to encourage the growth of production in light and agriculture industries in order to meet the goal of reaching the “strong and powerful nation” by 2012. In this year’s New Year Editorial, revolutionary development in science and technology, tight integration of science and technology with production, revolution of light industry and development of people’s economy through science research were mentioned as chief objectives of the year. It was said that significant weight will continue to be placed on the economy and technology including “integration of science and technology and production” and “technological revolutionary movement of the masses.”

Share

Posted in 2012 Strong and Prosperous Nation (Kangsong Taeguk), Domestic publication, Kim's New Year Address (Joint editorials), Light Industry, Manufacturing | Comments Closed

Friday Grab bag: a little bit of everything

Friday, June 17th, 2011

1. Google has uploaded some beautiful new satellite imagery of Pyongyang. Some parts of it are easier to see than others, and I have not gone through it all, but here are some fun, quick discoveries:

1. There appears to be a new aircraft runway in Ryongsong-guyok (룡성구역, 39.127835°, 125.777533°).  Maybe not, but maybe.

2. The Ryugyong Hotel is looking more and more like a space ship:

3. We can see 2012 building construction all over the place.  Below are the new apartments Kim Jong-il recently visited (L) at the foot of Haebang Hill and (R) behind the Central District Market (for artists).

Here and here are the KCNA stories about Kim’s visits to the sites.

Here is a photo of the artist-housing under construction.

The Haebang Hill apartments are built on the former location of the “Monument to the Fallen Fighters of the Korean People’s Army”.  See a picture of this former monument here.

 

2. DPRK TKD in USA. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, a North Korean Taekwondo team toured the northeastern US this week.  I wish I could have seen one of the shows…but here are some clips from the New York show on Youtube: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part4.

They did a great job and are tremendous athletes.  I hope they are able to return soon–and make it a little further south.

 

3. DPRK sand animation. This week KCNA posted some very interesting video of a “sand art” demonstration.  Very skilled performance. A viewer was able to rip the video and post it to YouTube.

Pictured above is the “Ryugyong Hotel fireworks” part of the performance.  Part 1 of the piece is here.  Part 2 of the piece is here.  The whole performance is well worth watching. If I could ever be a tourist to the DPRK again, I would want to see one of these performances.

UPDATE: A special thanks to Prof. Stephan Haggard for offering a helpful explication of the piece.

In a similar vein, this piece remains my favorite of the genre (from Ukraine).

 

2. Kim’s Train (Retro). Last week I posted recent video footage taken from inside Kim Jong-il’s train.  This week I post some retro footage taken in the 1970s(?):

You can see the video here.  The room set up is essentially the same, though Kim’s tastes have obviously changed!

 

3. The CNC backpack.

Here is the source.  Learn more about CNC here.

 

4. A North Korean artist reproduced da Vinci’s Last Supper for an art show in Russia. See the Russian-language version of the BBC here (picture-8 ). (h/t L.P.)

 

Share

Posted in Animation, Art, Civil society, CNC, Google Earth, Light Industry | 2 Comments »

Korea Unpung Joint Operating Company

Monday, June 6th, 2011

According to Yonhap:

A China-North Korea joint venture maker of food additives, have been operating smoothly in a display of close ties between the two countries, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency said Monday.

China’s Liaoning Wellhope Agri-tech Co. and North Korea’s Unpasan General Trading Company set up a joint venture, (North) Korea Unpung Joint Operating Company, in 2006, in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital city.

Liaoning Wellhope Agri-tech holds a 55 percent stake in the joint venture, while the North Korean trading firm has a 45 percent stake.

In a dispatch from Pyongyang, Xinhua said the total assets of Unpung have now reached 21 million yuan (US$3.24 million). During the six-year operation, the firm made a total pre-tax profit of 15.21 million yuan, and its cumulative sales of food additives reached 18,720 tons.

“At present, Unpung aims to become a first-class brand in the (North) Korean food additive industry,” the new agency said in a Chinese-language report.

“Recently, demand for food additives are rapidly rising in North Korea, and many companies need their employees to work overtime to meet the demand.”

Quoting the Chinese head of the joint venture, Xie Jingming, the report said the firm’s more than 5 years of business development and expansion can not be separated from the deepening economic cooperation between China and North Korea.

China-N. Korea joint venture maker of food additives operates smoothly: Xinhua
Yonhap
Kim Young-gyo
2011-6-6

Share

Posted in China, Economic reform, Food, Foreign direct investment, Korea Unpung Joint Operating Company, Light Industry, Manufacturing | Comments Closed

DPRK struggling with smoking

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

According to Yonhap:

At least a decade has passed since North Korea’s official media began urging its people to quit smoking ahead of 2012, the year it aims to become a “great, prosperous and powerful nation,” but recent reports suggest the smoking rate among North Koreans remains high.

In a report marking World No Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central Television reported Tuesday on the government’s anti-smoking campaign without mentioning its stated aim of lowering the smoking rate to 30 percent by 2010.

According to earlier North Korean media reports, 54.7 percent of the population smoked in 2008.

The North Korean regime, however, has been persistent in its efforts to reach its goal, enacting a law in 2005 to restrict smoking and banning advertisements in public places that relate to smoking.

These actions came after Korean Central Television made a broadcast in June 2000 that called on the North Korean people to give up smoking and contribute with their healthy bodies to building a “great, prosperous and powerful nation.” The year 2012 marks the centenary of the birth of North Korea’s late founder, Kim Il-sung.

Here is the previous KCNA coverage of “World No Tobacco Day”: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006-A, 2006-B, 2007, 2008, 2009-A, 2009-B,  2010, 2011-A, 2011-B.

The DPRK has a tobacco factory in Pyongyang, Hoeryong and commissioned a tobacco JV company in 2008.

Share

Posted in Light Industry, Manufacturing, Tobacco | 1 Comment »

DPRK appears to be manufacturing laptops

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Martyn Williams reports in PC World (2011-5-25):

North Korea might be an unlikely place to find a PC factory, but the country has started manufacturing three models of computers, according to a recent state TV report.

…

The three computers consist of two for educational use and one for office use.

The educational computers each run the same custom software and come in two versions: one is a netbook-sized laptop, and the other is a bland-looking box with a keyboard and mouse, that’s designed to be connected to a television.

“You can use multimedia educational materials,” said Pae Myong-sok, a factory representative interviewed in the TV report. “For example, you can view elementary and middle schools textbooks, do intellectual training exercises, view various types of dictionaries, edit documents and even learn foreign languages.”

The office computer is a laptop and runs productivity software and includes a web browser, Pae said. It’s also netbook-sized and has dual USB ports — something that’s not included on the educational machines — for data transfer. The battery lasts about two and a half hours, the report said.

No other specifications or details were offered in the report. The operating system was unclear from the TV images, but it didn’t appear to be Windows. North Korea has developed its own version of Linux called “Red Star” and it’s possible the computers are running that.

“The devices and programs of these computers were designed and developed purely using our own expertise,” said Pae. “These computers have low prime cost but are designed to carry out all the necessary functions without difficulty.”

The factory was identified as belonging to the “Information Technology Institute.” No other affiliation was provided, but the name matches a unit of Pyongyang’s Korea Computer Center (KCC). The KCC is one of North Korea’s centers for information technology study and learning and has successfully marketed a handful of software applications overseas.

I have posted the segment from the North Korean evening news that features the computers to YouTube.  You can watch it here (2011-3-10).

A reader later pointed out on Martyn’s blog that the DPRK computer is identical to a discount computer sold in the USA. According to Martyn:

Son has posted a comment noting the similarity of the office laptop to a $99 netbook sold in CVS stores in the U.S. The netbook carries the Sylvania brand of Siemens.

From the looks of the two machines, they are identical. It’s either the same or similar basic hardware.

The North Korean manufacturer could be supplying them to Sylvania, or both companies could be buying the laptops from another manufacturer, likely in China, and customizing them. (Just because the Sylvania model runs Windows CE, it doesn’t necessarily mean the North Korean laptop has the same software.)

Below are pictures of the two computers via North Korea Tech:

Share

Posted in CNC, Computing/IT, Light Industry, Manufacturing | 4 Comments »

Electricity supplies in the DPRK

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Pictured above (Google Earth): Pukchang Thermal Power Plant (북창화력발전련합기업소)

According to the Daily NK:

A source from Pyongyang reported the latest on the 14th, saying, “From April the electricity situation got a bit better, so now between 8 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon the electricity goes on and off repeatedly.”

But, the source added, “Between 10 at night and 5 in the morning, it is provided stably.”

According to the source, in the winter period from January to March, electricity was only supplied at all between midnight and 4 or 5 in the morning.

Residential areas of the city receive their electricity mostly at night because factories and official buildings are prioritized during daylight hours.

However, if, for instance, from 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. electricity goes to a shoe factory, and then from 12 P.M. to 5 P.M. it goes to a fabric factory, people in the neighborhood of those factories might be able to charge batteries or watch DVDs during that time.

However, outside the capital things are worse, as usual. In the case of Nampo on the West Sea coast, there is almost no daytime electricity supply at all. According to a source from the city, “In general there is no electricity. It comes around two days in ten, but even at those times it doesn’t usually work for longer than two hours.”

“The electricity situation is getting worse, and people say this is because electricity generated at Bukchang [Pukchang, 북창] Power Plant is all sent to Gangsun Steel Mill,” the source added.

Hyesan in Yangkang Province is in much the same boat. When Kim Jong Il conducted an onsite inspection at Hyesan Youth Mine in April the authorities provided the area with electricity, but now it never comes.

A Hyesan source explained, “They send electricity for 24 hours on Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s birthdays, but this year it was unstable even then. When May came, they started to give us electricity from 6 to 10 in the evening, but it is unstable so for houses with no transformer this electricity is useless.”

The source from Nampo reported that some wealthier people apparently used to get electricity by offering money to local factories, approximately 15,000 won per month, but that this avenue has also been closed off.

The practice stopped when a decree was handed down stating, “Those who use stolen electricity will be exiled.”

There is also the ongoing problem of copper theft, the Nampo source revealed, explaining, “Before April 15th this year, electrical cables were stolen from Nampo Samcheon-ri Chosun-China Joint Factory (a clothing factory), so for five days the factory couldn’t operate. The workers chipped in with around 300 to 500 won each from their wages to purchase cables so that electricity could come again.”

Since electricity does not flow in most cables continually, it is easy to sever them to obtain the saleable copper inside. This copper, which is relatively expensive, is then sold to smugglers who sell it in China.

The “Gangsun Steel Mill” (Kangson Steel Mill) is now the “Chollima Steel Mill” and it was home to the Chollima Movement (learn more here).  It is true that the DPRK has been recently emphasizing steel production (via recycling of scrap), but it is strange that people would literally think it is draining all the power from the Pukchang Thermal Power Plant since the two facilities are not directly connected on the power grid (or even close to each other).  It is pretty obvious from Google Earth imagery that the steel mill receives its power from the Pyongyang and East Pyongyang Thermal Power Plants.  It could be that the reference to the “Kangson Steel Mill” (which is itself interesting since the factory has not gone by that name in years) is a generic reference to the state’s prioritization of heavy industry over houshold electricity use.

Read the full story here:
Electricity Supplies Showing No Big Improvement
Daily NK
Lee Beom Ki and Jeong Jae Sung
2011-5-16

Share

Posted in Electricity, Energy, Light Industry, Manufacturing | Comments Closed

DPRK WIPO patent applications dry up

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

According to Yonhap:

North Korea has not filed a single international patent application with the global patent governing body since last September, a media report said.

The U.S.-based Radio Free Asia (RFA), citing an official at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), reported on April 28 that North Korea has applied for 22 international patents since 1993 but new applications have dried up since September 2010.

North Korea’s previous patent filings included those on finger print-recognition technology and fuel-efficient engines and others. The country joined the United Nations patent body in 1974.

South Korea, meanwhile, has applied for 2,800 patents with WIPO in September last year, averaging about 700 per month.

Ham Yoon-seok, a Korean patent attorney working in the United States, said that North Korean law does not properly recognize the intellectual property rights of inventions and patents, attributing the notion to the weak patent applications.

Read the full story here:
N. Korea’s Int’l Patent Applications Dry up Since Late 2010: WIPO
Yonhap
2011-5-5

Share

Posted in Intellectual Property, International trade, Light Industry, Manufacturing | Comments Closed

Kim Jong-il actively making field guidance visits in the economy sector

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
(NK Brief 11-04-27)

Kim Jong Il is continuing to make field guidance visits around Ryanggang and the Northern Hamgyong Province.

The Rodong Sinmun reported on April 23 that Kim Jong Il visited Rajin Shipyard. Rajin Shipyard is known for producing ships necessary for advancing fishing, marine transportation, and foreign trade industries. Chairman Kim emphasized the importance of self-reliance, especially on the need to adopt the latest science and technology and partake in the mass technical innovation movement by implementing CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology into ship design, assembly, and manufacturing.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 20, Kim also gave field guidance at Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex and newly built Susongchon General Foodstuff Factory in Northern Hamgyong Province. The Rodong Sinmun on April 22 also reported that the DPRK leader provided field guidance at Hyesan Youth Mine in Ryanggang Province. At the Hyesan Youth Mine, he said “The major project of the Party is to complete the technological modernization to radically increase the production of mineral ores.”

At the recent visitation to Songjin Steel Complex at Kim Chaek City, Kim once again emphasized self-reliance. Kim stated, “The self-reliance of the metal industry is the permanent path of our economy.” He further added, “Despite the imperialist’s sanctions and blockade, we reached the highest level of metal production from the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance. The Party’s traditional slogan of self-reliance is the only weapon of victory leading to our nation’s triumph and prosperity.”

North Korea announced that Songjin Steel Complex established Juche steel production system at the end of 2009. At the complex, Kim gave praise to the facility by saying, “The completion of steelmaking process of Juche steel with our own technology is a greater victory than the success of a third nuclear test.”

However, Kim Jong Un, the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and the named successor of the DPRK was not included in the list of entourage in the recent field guidance given by the senior Kim at Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex, Hyesan Youth Mine and Najin Shipyard.

Kim Jong Il is reported to have conducted 35 official activities in the first quarter of 2011. Although it is a decrease from last year’s number of 41, it is still higher than the average of 21(1999-2010) in the first quarter. The breakdown of the activities of Kim is as follows: 12 economy-related visitations, 10 attendances at performances, 9 inspections at military bases or other military related activities and lastly, 4 meetings with diplomatic delegations.

The economy-related inspections were the highest in the first quarter since 2009. This trend reflects Kim’s intentions of concentrating on inspecting the economic sectors early on in the year to encourage results in this sector. A notable point is that self-reliance and incorporation of CNC was mentioned at all industrial facilities that Kim inspected.

Among the entourage, Kim Jong Il’s sister, Kim Kyong Hui, director of the Light Industry Department of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP), accompanied the leader 28 times on his recent inspections. Kim Ki Nam, the KWP Secretary and Director of Publicity and Information Department made 24 trips, Kim Jong Un and Tae Jong Su, KWP Secretary and Director of the General Affairs Department made 22 trips each, and Chang Song Taek (Jang Song Thaek), the husband of Kim Kyong Hui and vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission, is known to have made 20 accompaniments.

Recently, North Korea has been making changes in the planned economy by naming the new Central Bank chief, upgrading the State Price Bureau to the State Price Commission, and establishing the State General Bureau of Economic Development.

Kim Jong Il has conducted a total of 161 official activities last year, his most active year since the official launch of the Kim Jong-Il regime in 1998.

Share

Posted in CNC, Economic reform, Institute for Far Eastern Studies, Light Industry, Manufacturing, Mining/Minerals | Comments Closed

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »