North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurated what state media proclaimed as the "largest-ever greenhouse farm" on Monday, highlighting his focus on regional development after last year's devastating floods.
The 1,112-acre (450-hectare) greenhouse farm and vegetable research center in Sinuiju and Uiju County is part of a broader push for regional revitalization, the state-run Rodong Sinmun reported. The paper lauded the project as a testament to the ruling party's leadership, though similar claims have been exaggerated in the past.
State media previously declared the Kangdong General Greenhouse Farm (615 acres) the "world's biggest vegetable farm" in 2023, though analysis suggested these claims were inflated. While the new complex dwarfs Kangdong, it may not surpass Egypt's 10th of Ramadan City greenhouses, which cover over 2,000 acres (800 hectares).
Premier Pak Thae Song described the facility as North Korea's largest greenhouse complex to date, featuring vegetable processing factories, storage facilities, trial cultivation sites, and residential areas for workers. Kim framed the project as symbolic of national rejuvenation, stating that it replaces flood devastation with a "new socialist life."
At the groundbreaking, Kim addressed members of the navy, air force, and youth brigades, praising their efforts in realizing the ruling party's vision. He ceremoniously dug the first spadeful of earth and triggered a detonation, followed by fireworks and cheers.
Kim later met with military officers and youth leaders, urging them to accelerate both the greenhouse construction and a nearby dike to protect against future natural disasters.
While North Korea continues emphasizing self-sufficiency, resources remain heavily directed toward its weapons programs, raising doubts about the actual impact of this latest agricultural initiative.
Source: NK News