This year marks the final year of North Korea’s Five-Year Plan for National Economic Development (2021–2025), which was adopted at the 8th Congress of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP) held in January 2021. North Korea is also preparing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the KWP in October this year and to convene the 9th Party Congress in 2026. The specific objectives of the five-year plan include the development of regional economies and the improvement of living conditions for residents in provincial areas. In line with these objectives, the 20×10 Regional Development Policy (20×10 Policy) was adopted at the 10th Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) held in January 2024.

Changes in the 20×10 Regional Development Policy in the Final Year of the Five-Year Plan Focus on Addressing the Severe Urban−Rural Disparities in Healthcare and Cultural Life Presentation of a 10-Year Regional Healthcare Modernization Plan during the Ongoing Construction of Pyongyang General Hospital Resumption of Aid and Cooperation Projects for North Korea and Their Association with the 20×10 Policy