The Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Feb. 28 that groundbreaking ceremonies for local industrial factory construction in Bukchang, Yomju, Paechon, Changgang, Cholwon and Kilju counties were held the previous day (Feb. 27). (Rodong Sinmun-News1)
North Korea has equipped military construction units with heavy construction equipment needed for building factories in the countryside as part of Kim Jong Un’s 20×10 regional development policy.
A source in South Pyongan province told Daily NK recently that heavy equipment was delivered to the 124th Regiment, which was established expressly to build factories, in a ceremony late last month.
According to the source, this was the fourth ceremony held this year alone for deliveries of heavy equipment to construction units.
Most of the equipment delivered to the construction unit in South Pyongan province was made by leading Chinese manufacturers of heavy equipment and construction machinery, including SANY, XCMG and SDLG. Some of the equipment was apparently modified by North Korean engineers for local conditions, including the “Chollima” and “Ponghwa” models.
“This heavy equipment was made available with Chinese assistance. The Party described this as part of bilateral cooperation in the area of construction,” the source said.
‘Building up the country by machine rather than by hand’
The municipal and county officials who attended the ceremony were astonished to see such a large assortment of modern construction equipment, including bulldozers, excavators, tower cranes, dump trucks, concrete mixers and steamrollers.
“The mechanization and modernization of the provincial construction front is an important stage in the revolution of provincial industry. The provinces are being uplifted through Kim Jong Un’s efforts to bring Koreans greater prosperity,” according to officials representing a provincial ad hoc committee promoting Kim’s signature 20×10 regional development policy during the ceremony.
The source said that workers have been chanting slogans about “building up the country by machine rather than by hand.”
After the ceremony, the heavy equipment was handed over to soldiers in the construction unit. As soldiers received the keys to the equipment, they reportedly promised to “repay the Workers’ Party’s trust with results.”
“The delivered equipment was immediately deployed at multiple construction sites in the province, including factories and hospitals, that are being carried out under the 20×10 regional development policy. The equipment has been nicknamed ‘mechanized forces’ and ‘primary weapons’ by workers at each site, who expect the equipment will help them drive forward the revolution of provincial industry and accelerate its schedule,” the source said.
“Both party officials and the general public in South Pyongan province strongly approve of the shipment of heavy equipment. They see it as an expression of the Workers’ Party’s love that has galvanized the provincial construction drive,” the source added.
As soon as the equipment arrived, operation and repair training sessions were held for soldiers in construction units at each site.
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