▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (3rd from R) visits the Sangwon Cement Complex in the central province of North Hwanghae on March 1, 2026, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-industrial campaign

N. Korea highlights cement factory praised by leader Kim to drum up industrial output

SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has launched an industrial campaign to boost production, presenting a cement factory in the country's southern region praised by leader Kim Jong-un as an exemplary case, according to a North Korean newspaper Wednesday.

The North's ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun called the Sangwon Cement Complex in North Hwanghae Province "an honorable, cherished example" of putting into practice the spirit of last month's party congress.

"Through aggressive efforts," the factory is churning out 1.2 times its daily target to renew the record-high production levels achieved last year, the paper said.

The cement factory is the site Kim visited on March 1 in his first public inspection of an industrial facility following last month's high-profile ruling party congress.

The leader praised the factory for making "great contributions" to the party's successful implementation of large-scale construction projects.

The cement factory, which has an annual production capacity of 2 million tons, has reportedly been vital to North Korea's major construction projects in recent years, including efforts to build 50,000 flats in Pyongyang.

"Like the working class in Sangwon that is recording new production miracles, new standards and record-breaking achievements should be pursued ... to create remarkable outcomes from the first year of the five-year plan," the paper said, referring to economic development plans adopted at the congress.

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