North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un inspects the Phyongnam General Machine Plant, presumed to be also known as the General Machinery Plant ― that he inspected Jan. 18 ― in South Pyongan Province, in this photo released by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Sunday. KCNA-Yonhap

Kim's latest activity could be seen as either military-related or economy-focused

By Jung Da-min

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un's latest inspections of general machine plants could be an indicator that he intends to continue his country's nuclear and missile programs, according to a long-time North Korea researcher.

The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday that Kim had inspected the Phyongnam General Machine Plant, presumed to be also named the January 18 General Machinery Plant in South Pyongan Province that he previously inspected.

The KCNA reported the day before that Kim has visited a number of "economic" sites in Jagang Province, including the Kanggye General Tractor Plant, a well-known munitions factory.

The additional factories and plants Kim visited included the Kanggye General Precision Machine Plant, the Jangjagang Machine Tool Factory and the February 8 General Machine Factory.

"All of the plants and factories he visited are munitions factories and Jagang Province is where those factories are concentrated," said Oh Gyeong-seob, a research fellow in the North Korean Studies Division of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU).

"While this could be seen as the North Korean leader's routine inspection of the munitions factories, which is estimated to make up 30 percent to 60 percent of the country's economic activities, it could also be seen as North Korea's message to the United States that it will continue its nuclear and missile programs if Washington does not make concessions in the now-stalled nuclear negotiations between the two countries."

But another North Korea watcher Lee Soo-seok, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy, said he sees the visits as more focused on sending a message to North Koreans by encouraging economic activities while strengthening ideological education, referring to Kim's visit to a school named the 250-Mile Journey for Learning Schoolchildren's Palace in Kanggye, Jagang Province.

"I noted that Kim Jong-un visited the 250-Mile Journey for Learning Schoolchildren's Palace, along with his visit to the factories in Jagang Province," Lee said. "It gave me the impression that Kim wanted to emphasize ideology and education to solidify his regime, turning aside from the tension-mounting military provocations through the missiles launches in May."

While Oh said it would be hard for North Korea to shift a munitions industry-led economy to civilian industry-led one, Lee said the factories could be used for civilian activities including agriculture.

The KCNA noted that regarding the Kanggye Tractor Genral Plant, Kim "greatly appreciated the plant for having produced highly efficient machinery and equipment conducive to the national economy and the strengthening of defense capabilities."

The KCNA report said, "[Kim] set forth the highly important tasks which will serve as guidelines in management and operation of the plant, saying that the plant holds an important place in developing the machine-building industry of the country."

Kim also called for the renewal of provincial towns in Manpo and Kanggye in Jagang Province, according to another KCNA article.