North Korea’s prime minister recently inspected a power generation plant in North Pyongan Province, as the communist country moves to emphasize the greater role of the Cabinet after the execution of the uncle of the country’s leader late last year.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Pak Pong-ju toured a power generation plant under construction in Hyangsan County. The news agency did not specify the exact date of the inspection.
The senior official checked four stations being built at the Huichon plant and held talks with on-site officials on the timetable for their completion, according to the news wire.
The communist country suffers from chronic power shortages and has been moving to build new power stations. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been emphasizing the importance of a stable power supply in order to rejuvenate the economy ever since he took power in late 2011.
The latest visit may be an attempt by Pyongyang to show “business as usual” after the purge of Jang Song-thaek, who helped the incumbent leader solidify his power after the sudden death of his father Kim Jong-il. Jang was widely viewed as the second most influential figure in the country, before he was executed, along with his supporters, last year.
Meanwhile, Pak, who has been known to have been close to Jang, had visited the power station twice before in June and August before the purge.
In addition, the KCNA said Pak toured a cooperative farm in the same province. Agriculture has been another sector that Pyongyang has shown interest in after the new leader took control.
North Korean watchers speculated that Pak’s role and that of the Cabinet in general has taken a more prominent position in recent weeks as the North reshuffles key political players.
Pak was present at the inspections of new highways, a new airport terminal and the high profile Masik Pass ski resort that opened on Dec. 31. (Yonhap News)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
