North Korea: The Sangwon Cement Complex has appealed to smaller cement plants to boost production for major government projects, despite a lack of raw materials and electricity, according to Radio Free Asia.
The ‘vaguely written’ appeal, issued in early February 2025, states the urgent need for cement to complete government housing projects and rural development initiatives, but does not specify how production should increase. One of the projects listed is the Pyongyang housing project, which aims to build 10,000 new homes per year, and a total of 50,000 by the end of 2025.
A resident said “The Sangwon Cement Complex is affiliated with the central committee. Its electricity and raw materials are fully provided by the central party. How can the appeal demand increased cement production from local cement companies when there is no electricity or limestone?”
Another resident noted that most construction is being carried out by military labour units but cement shortages are forcing builders to cut corners, with most rural houses reportedly built from soil mixed with clay, lime, and decomposed granite. Though the appeal came from the Sangwon Cement Complex, residents see it as an implicit order from Kim Jong-un’s government. In the past, citizens were forced to gather sand and gravel for public projects, and some fear this order could have the same effect.
