North Korea Holds Supreme People's Assembly Plenary Meeting... Approves Geumgangsan 'East Sea Development Plan'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea held the 3rd plenary meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly and approved the 'East Sea Development Plan.' The East Sea Development Plan is highly likely to include tourism-related plans such as for Kumgangsan.

The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, reported on the 4th that "Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, presided over the plenary meeting."

The meeting was attended by Standing Committee vice chairmen, Standing Committee members, and officials from the Standing Committee and the Cabinet observed the session.

At the plenary meeting, four agenda items were presented: the adoption of the Social Insurance and Social Security Law, the Imported Goods Disinfection Law, the People's Economic Development Plan, and the approval of the East Coast District National Land Construction Master Plan. All were adopted unanimously.

The Social Insurance and Social Security Law specifically outlines matters related to protecting the health of the people and providing stable living conditions, guarantees and expenditures of social insurance funds, the organization and operation of social insurance institutions, and their duties.

The Imported Goods Disinfection Law stipulates strict systems and order regarding the disinfection of imported goods at border crossing points, disinfection procedures and methods for imported goods, and penalties for violations of disinfection order.

Although specific details were not disclosed regarding the approval of the East Coast District National Land Construction Master Plan, it is believed to include the development of tourism resources such as Kumgangsan.

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies interpreted this as reflecting the will to comprehensively develop the East Coast District, which is relatively underdeveloped compared to the West Coast District of North Korea. He said, "The East Coast District will be centered on the tourism industry, as well as the construction of transportation, logistics, and heavy chemical industrial complexes," adding, "Since General Secretary Kim Jong-un also emphasized 'direct development,' it is highly likely that the Kumgangsan development plan is included."

General Secretary Kim visited the Kumgangsan tourist area in October 2019 and expressed his determination by saying, "Let's completely remove the shabby South Korean facilities and rebuild them in our style." Recently, in the report summarizing the 8th Party Congress, he emphasized, "The Kumgangsan area must be transformed into a modern cultural tourism area in our style."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.