North Korean leader inspects a series of economic facilities
Rodong Sinmun, the daily newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, reported on August 5 about leader Kim Jong-un's continuous inspection tours of important facilities, amid little concrete progress in denuclearization talks with the United States.
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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center) during an inspection tour of Sindo island district in June. Photo: Reuters |
According to the newspaper, since late June, Mr. Kim Jong-un has visited about 20 economic establishments in North Pyongan Province, Yanggang Province, North Hamgyong Province and Gangwon Province.
The trips come after Kim Jong-un shifted his strategic policy focus to economic development earlier this year, a change of direction that led to a historic June meeting in Singapore with US President Donald Trump.
At the meeting, the two sides agreed to pursue “complete denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula, raising speculation that international sanctions could be lifted and economic opportunities created for the country. However, so far, denuclearization talks between the US and North Korea have made little concrete progress.