Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited several regional factories ahead of their official opening, emphasizing the construction of such facilities as a "gigantic revolution" aimed at improving people's livelihoods, state media reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim inspected regional-industrial factories in several counties of South Phyongan Province, including the Sinyang and Pukchang counties. These visits took place on Wednesday as the official openings of the factories are approaching. In January of the previous year, Kim introduced his regional development policy to construct modern factories across 20 cities and counties annually over a decade to enhance living conditions in regional areas.

During his inspection of factories producing foodstuffs, garments, and daily necessities, Kim noted that regional factories have been constructed in 40 cities and counties in less than two years since the project's initiation. He described these developments as "eye-opening regional changes." Kim stated that the rural and regional-industry constructions represent a "gigantic revolution" aimed at fundamentally improving the people's quality of life and establishing the material and technical foundations for the independent development of cities and counties.

Kim also stressed the need for "perfect" preparations for operations before the inauguration ceremonies scheduled for this month. The inspection coincides with North Korea's plan to hold a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in mid-December and a key party congress early next year. In recent months, Kim has focused on visiting sites related to regional development to highlight the construction of modern factories and other facilities as significant policy achievements at upcoming major party events.