Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of an industrial complex on the outskirts of Pyongyang, the state media said Tuesday. Kim appeared at the event held the previous day in Kangdong County, where a factory and a multifunctional service facility have been built under his signature regional development policy, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim cut the ribbon and toured the food processing plant and the community service complex, expressing satisfaction with the completion of the construction, the KCNA said. Kim stated that efforts to advance regional development and deliver prosperity and civilization to the people is an undertaking that his party must pursue consistently and unconditionally, according to the state media.

He also emphasized that the true value of a regional industrial revolution should be demonstrated by transforming the ideological consciousness of officials and workers. North Korea is advancing a regional development initiative aimed at reducing the gap between urban and rural areas under Kim's directives.

Kim visited the same county in February to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a hospital and a multipurpose service facility, in what was the first such project under the development plans. The hospital complex was completed in November. During last week's plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, the North selected 20 cities and counties for construction projects under the local development initiative.