▲ This file photo, published by the Korean Central News Agency on March 25, 2025, shows Pak Thae-song inspecting a farming house in Sinchon, South Hwanghae Province. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-cabinet meeting

N. Korea says 'proud' economic results achieved in Q1 after cabinet meeting

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has held a plenary cabinet meeting and concluded the country achieved "proud" economic achievements in the first quarter of this year, state media reported Friday.

The meeting was convened the previous day, presided over by Premier Park Thae-song, to assess the implementation of the country's economic plans for the first quarter, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission Pak Jong-gun reported to the meeting that "Proud outcomes have been achieved from the implementation of public economic plans in the first quarter," the KCNA said.

He also highlighted the need to combat "passive" and "self-preserving" attitudes among workers at workplaces, while childcare policies and farming issues were also discussed during the meeting, the report said.

In a report in January, South Korea's Hyundai Research Institute assessed that North Korea's economy appeared to have grown last year, marking the second consecutive year of growth. However, the growth was likely "limited" due to internal and external constraints, it said.

Seoul's unification ministry said last week that North Korea is believed to be receiving economic benefits worth US$3 billion from Russia in return for deploying troops to support its neighbor in the war against Ukraine.

Although this is insufficient to boost North Korea's entire economy, it is enough to fund leader Kim Jong-un's pet projects, such as the construction of hospitals, regional factories and other facilities for the public, the ministry said.

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[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]