In North Korea, even the production of kimchi can be revolutionised by technological know-how
Koreans North and South have been making kimchi for generations, often passing family recipes down from mother to daughter or mother-in-law to daughter-in-law
Kim Jong-un wants to turn the art of kimchi-making into a science. And the North Korean leader is putting his money where his mouth is.
On the outskirts of Pyongyang, surrounded by snow-covered farms and greenhouses, stands one of Kim’s latest pet projects, the Ryugyong kimchi factory, which produces 4,200 tons of the Korean pickled vegetable dish a year. The shiny new facility replaces an older factory and opened in June last year after getting Kim’s final seal of approval, according to manager Paek Mi-hye.
The factory is intended to showcase Kim’s efforts to boost North Korea’s domestic economy and produce more, and better, consumer products. His strategy, known as byungjin, aims to simultaneously develop the national economy and North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
North Korea’s repeated underground nuclear tests and launches of long-range missiles that could conceivably reach the US mainland have brought more sanctions down on the North than ever before.
But outside experts believe the country – while still struggling in many areas – is showing signs of modest economic growth and improved agricultural production. It could be just a year or two away from having an operational, nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile.
This is the model. Other factories like ours are being planned in every province
Applied science, according to the North’s policymakers, is absolutely essential on all fronts.