Kim Myongsung’s Inside North Korea
· Kim Jong-un Dismisses Trump’s Indication of Talks, Vows to Strengthen Nuclear Deterrence.
· Kim Jong-un Deems ‘Wine and Dine’ by Local Officials a ‘Major Crime’
· North Korea Ranks Second in Watch Exports to China, Each Watch Sold for Just 11 Cents
Kim Myong-sung
During his visit, Kim warned that confrontation with "unstable and malicious hostile nations" is inevitable and strengthening North Korea's "nuclear shield" is essential. He declared, “Advancing our nuclear response beyond limits is a stance we must uphold and a sacred duty.”
Kim directed that North Korea exceed its plans for weapons-grade nuclear material production and achieve groundbreaking results in enhancing its nuclear deterrence.
Photos released by North Korean media from the visit show that the locations appear to be the same nuclear enrichment facilities that were revealed during Kim's field visit in September last year.
This guidance and statement from Kim came just six days after President Trump expressed a willingness to resume dialogue, signaling that North Korea is not ready to return to talks at this time. Instead, it suggests a continued focus on bolstering its nuclear forces and prolonging a standoff. Kim made it clear he had no intention of discussing denuclearization.
Meanwhile, the White House and U.S. State Department reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization, sparking a battle over whether talks will focus on denuclearization or arms reduction.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un convened an enlarged WPK Secretariat meeting, ordering strict action against over 40 officials and citizens from Onchon and Ushi counties for attending “wine and dine” gatherings, violating Party rules, and infringing on residents' rights.
On the 29th, Rodong Sinmun reported that at the 30th enlarged meeting of the WPK Secretariat, chaired by Kim Jong-un, the Organization Guidance Department summarized Party discipline violations by Onchon County officials, followed by a report from the Discipline Investigation Department.
Rodong Sinmun condemned officials for accepting alcohol at public institutions, stating that their "openly carried out collective drunken misconduct" directly violated Party discipline. They were labeled "incompetent, corrupt individuals" and "a reckless, disorganized group."
The meeting also addressed the Ushi County Agricultural Inspection Agency in Jagang Province, which abused its authority to violate citizens’ rights and property. The Party decided to dissolve both the Onchon County Party Committee and the agency, vowing "severe consequences" for those who broke Party rules.
In his speech that day, Kim stated, "Local power brokers and bureaucrats are attempting to tear down the sacred unity between the Party and the people without the slightest hesitation." He declared, "This is an unforgivable, major criminal act against our Party, our people, our system, and our legal authority."
He emphasized that a strong campaign would be launched against crimes, including targeted operations, pursuits, searches, and sweeps.
The misconduct occurred in Onchon County (Nampo Province) and Ushi County (Jagang Province), two of 20 districts where North Korea built local industrial factories under Kim Jong-un’s "20×10 Regional Development Policy." Onchon County’s factory was inaugurated on the 20th, and Ushi County’s on the 25th.
It seems he intends to tighten discipline among officials and strengthen internal unity to ensure the five-year economic plan's success in its final year and advance the "20×10 Regional Development Policy" smoothly.
North Korea Ranks Second in Watch Exports to China, Each Watch Sold for Just 11 Cents
Last year, North Korea ranked second in the world for wristwatch exports to China.
On February 1st, Voice of America (VOA) reported, based on recently released trade data from the General Administration of customs of the People’s Republic of China, that North Korea's wristwatch exports totaled $16.28 million last year, securing second place among 12 countries.
Japan ranked first with $120 million, while Switzerland took third place with $5.87 million.
VOA explained that since 2017, as international sanctions blocked key exports such as coal and textiles, North Korea significantly increased its wristwatch exports to China, which were not affected by sanctions. After reaching $49.18 million in 2019, North Korea’s wristwatch exports to China temporarily halted during the pandemic, but rebounded to around $4.05 million in 2023 and then surged fourfold last year.
Last year, North Korea exported 136.88 million wristwatches to China at just 11 cents each—about 1/14th to 1/34th the price of Japanese ($1.47) and Swiss ($3.42) watches. While the volume was enough to outfit one in ten Chinese people, the low price meant North Korea earned less than $200 million from these exports.
North Korea's business approach is also reflected in its top export, wigs. Last year, it exported 2,620 tons to China, earning $180.21 million—the highest among 43 countries. However, the export value per kilogram was just $68, about half the price of wigs from Bangladesh ($132) and Myanmar ($140).
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