Kim Jong Un tours clothing and shoe exhibition, praises local factories, KCNA says
In short
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un toured the 2026 national clothing and footwear exhibition on 19 October, the Korean Central News Agency reported on 20 October. He said products from local factories rival those from central ones and called this proof of his party's policy of ending the gap between city and countryside. His wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Ju Ae went with him.
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North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un visited the light-industry clothing and footwear exhibition 'National Clothing and Footwear Exhibition 2026', the Korean Central News Agency reported on 20 October. Yonhap and SBS said the visit took place the previous day and that he toured it with senior party and government officials and expressed satisfaction. His wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Ju Ae accompanied him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the agency, the exhibition, themed 'new product development and quality improvement fervor', displayed goods from more than 270 production units, including major light-industry factories and newly built city and county clothing factories. Newsis, citing the agency, said these units produce clothing, shoes and bags. The items were more than 70,700 pieces of clothing of more than 30 types and more than 170,000 pairs of shoes of more than 60 types. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kim said the exhibition, held every October, showed in every respect a leap in light industry that focuses on quality and new product development and stirs up competition, and that it gave a direct view of the development path of light industry. He said dozens of stylish, good-quality clothing and shoe products from local factories, including the city and county clothing factories newly built under the party's regional development policy, were standing shoulder to shoulder with central products. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
He described this as a clear display of the correctness and vitality of the party's policy aimed at ending the differences between regions and between city and countryside and achieving simultaneous, balanced development across the country. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kim also said that improving product design is most important in light industry. Yonhap quoted him as calling for design festivals and design exhibitions in various forms, to learn workers' cultural tastes and reflect them in production. The other tasks he set included encouraging traditional clothing, producing light-industry goods that reflect symbolic elements of the national flag, expanding publication of pictorials and magazines introducing new clothing and shoes, promoting competition among production units, and ensuring the quality of school uniforms, bags and shoes. [ 1 , 2 ]
The documents describe the 'regional development 20x10 policy' as North Korea's plan, running for 10 years from 2024, to build modern factories, hospitals and, according to Yonhap and SBS, service facilities in 20 cities and counties each year to narrow the urban-rural gap. Yonhap noted that this is the policy's third year and said the praise for local products appears intended to show at home and abroad that the policy goal is being achieved. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The coverage rests on the state news agency's account, and Yonhap reads the visit as an effort to show at home and abroad that the '20x10' regional development policy is achieving its aim. The documents give no independent assessment of the products or the policy's results.
Key facts
- The Korean Central News Agency reported on 20 October that Kim Jong Un toured the 'National Clothing and Footwear Exhibition 2026' with senior party and government officials the day before. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- His wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Ju Ae accompanied him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The exhibition, themed 'new product development and quality improvement fervor', showed items from more than 270 production units: over 70,700 clothing items of more than 30 types and over 170,000 pairs of shoes of more than 60 types. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said clothing and shoes from local light-industry factories, including newly built city and county clothing factories, stand shoulder to shoulder with central products. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He called this a clear demonstration of the correctness and vitality of the party's policy of ending the gaps between regions and between city and countryside and achieving simultaneous, balanced development of the country. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He set tasks including promoting traditional clothing, making light-industry goods that incorporate elements of the national flag, publishing more illustrated books and magazines on new clothing and shoes, spurring competition between production units, and guaranteeing the quality of school uniforms, bags and shoes. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Jong Un toured the 'National Clothing and Footwear Exhibition 2026' on 19 October, according to the Korean Central News Agency report of 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The exhibition displayed more than 70,700 clothing items and more than 170,000 pairs of shoes from more than 270 production units. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said local factories' products compete with central products and called this proof of the party's policy of ending the city-countryside gap. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ri Sol Ju and Ju Ae accompanied Kim on the visit. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether local products actually match central products in quality. This is Kim's assessment as relayed by the Korean Central News Agency; the documents contain no independent check.
- Whether the visit is meant to show the regional development policy is succeeding. Only Yonhap offers this reading, saying it appears to be the intent.