Kim Jong Un Launches Ambitious Greenhouse Farm Project Near Chinese Border, Aimed at Boosting Agriculture and Flood Recovery
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inaugurated what state media claims will be the “largest-ever greenhouse farm,” marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to revitalize agriculture and recover from devastating floods that struck the region last year. The massive project, located near the Chinese border, underscores Kim’s focus on regional development and food security amid ongoing economic challenges.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the 1,112-acre (450-hectare) greenhouse farm and a vegetable science research center took place on Monday in Sinuiju and Uiju County, near the Yalu River. According to the cabinet-run daily Rodong Sinmun, Kim described the project as part of “a grand new construction plan for greater local change,” emphasizing its role in transforming the flood-affected region into a “socialist paradise.”
The new facility, which will include vegetable greenhouses, a processing factory, storage facilities, and residential amenities, is expected to significantly bolster North Korea’s agricultural output. Premier Pak Thae Song hailed the project as a milestone, stating that the complex covers a “more vast area” than all of the country’s recent greenhouse initiatives combined.
However, claims that the farm will be the “largest-ever” of its kind appear exaggerated. Satellite imagery suggests the complex spans between 2,225 and 2,470 acres (900 to 1,000 hectares), making it nearly twice the size of the Kangdong General Greenhouse Farm inaugurated in 2023. While the Kangdong facility was touted as the “world’s biggest vegetable farm,” independent analysis by NK Pro revealed discrepancies in its reported size, suggesting the claims were part of a broader effort to highlight the regime’s commitment to public welfare.
Even with its impressive scale, the Sinuiju greenhouse farm may not surpass the size of a growing complex in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City, which covers over 2,000 acres (800 hectares). Nevertheless, the North Korean project represents a significant upgrade for the country’s agricultural infrastructure, particularly in a region still recovering from last year’s floods.
Kim emphasized the symbolic importance of the project during his speech at the ceremony, stating, “The site for the construction of a large greenhouse farm, on which we are now standing, will symbolize our cause of rejuvenating the whole country through a continuous, accelerated struggle.” He also praised the efforts of the navy, air force, and the Paektusan Hero Youth Shock Brigade, who will lead the construction, calling their work a reflection of the “prestige of our dignified state” and the “lofty ideal we are going to achieve.”
The ceremony concluded with Kim digging the first spadeful of earth and setting off a detonation, followed by fireworks and cheers from the crowd. The North Korean leader also met with military and youth brigade leaders to discuss plans for constructing a nearby dike, aimed at protecting the region from future natural disasters.
The greenhouse farm project is the latest in a series of agricultural initiatives under Kim’s leadership, as the country continues to grapple with chronic food insecurity and the dual pressures of international sanctions and climate-related challenges. While the regime’s claims of grandeur may be overstated, the project highlights Pyongyang’s ongoing efforts to address domestic vulnerabilities and project an image of progress and self-reliance.
