Kim Jong Un Visits the Ryongaksan Soap Factory

Kim Jong Un tours a manufacturing area at Ryongaksan Soap Factory in western Pyongyang in an image seen top-center on the front page of the October 29, 2016 edition of the WPK daily organ Rodong Sinmun (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his visit to Mangyo’ngdae Revolutionary Site Souvenir Factory

DPRK state media reported on October 29 (Saturday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the recently constructed Ryongaksan Soap Factory.  Also in attendance were Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department Director and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Vice Marshal Hwang Pyong So [Hwang Pyo’ng-so’], WPK Vice Chairman and Director of Economic Affairs O Su Yong [O Su-yo’ng], WPK Light Industry Department Director An Jong Su [An Cho’ng-su], WPK Finance and Accounting Department Director Kim Yong Su [Kim Yo’ng-su] 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and Member of the WPK Central Military Commission Colonel-General So Hong Chan [So Hong-chan], WPK Organization Guidance Department Deputy Director Jo Yong Won [Cho Yo’ng-wo’n] and State Affairs Commission Design Department Director Ma Won Chun [Ma Wo’n-ch’un].  In some of the remarks attributed to him in state media reporting, Kim Jong Un appeared to have referred to his recent physical and/or mental health saying the “pent-up fatigue” had been relieved which might be why he has curtailed his public reported activities during the last two weeks.

Photos of Kim Jong Un’s visit to and the premises of the Ryongaksan Soap Factory which appeared on the bottom left of the October 29, 2016 edition of the WPK daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Whilst taking in a “panoramic view” of the soap factory, Jong Un  said “with great satisfaction that a large-scale modern factory was built in a matter of a few months though it seemed like yesterday when he was visiting the construction site.  Another factory has sprung up to contribute to improving the standard of people’s living.” He toured the factory and was briefed about its production, manufacturing equipment and its products.

Views of Kim Jong Un’s visit and the premises of the Ryongaksan Soap Factory which appeared on the bottom right of the October 29, 2016 edition of Rodong Sinmun (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un said he “was pleased with everything there as the building area and production space has been built and equipment are rationally distributed on the basis of scientific design of technological processes and the inside and outside of the factory have been arranged in an impeccable style.”  He noted that “all production processes have been put on an automated and unmanned basis at a high level and an excellent integrated production system established in line with the features of the factory producing all kinds of liquid soap and detergent” and was “pleased that the factory has not only modern injection moulding machines capable of easily producing various containers for liquid soap which look nice and convenient but sufficient cutting-edge equipment capable of analyzing and examining the quality and hygienic safety of products.”

View of Kim Jong Un’s visit and the premises of the Ryongaksan Soap Factory which appeared on the top left of page two of the October 29, 2016 edition of Rodong Sinmun (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

He said that it is “gratifying to see varieties of products including shampoo, rinse, detergent for vessels and soap powder on high pile, though the factory started production not long before.”  Jong Un issued “tasks facing the factory including the issues of increasing varieties of liquid soap and detergent and their output year by year by year and thoroughly guaranteeing their quality and further improving their trademarks.”  He noted that the “factory was successfully built in such a manner as to match the natural scenery of Mt. Ryongak” and recalled that “leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) gave instructions to build a factory specializing in the production of liquid soap on several occasions in his lifetime.”  Kim Jong Un said “with pleasure” that one of KJI’s “behests was fulfilled.”

Kim Jong Un views products of the Ryongaksan Soap Factory in photos which appeared on the top right of the October 29, 2016 edition of the WPK daily organ Rodong Sinmun (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un said “with a broad smile on his face” that he was “pleased to picture the people liking varieties of liquid soap and detergent produced by the factory.”  He said he “was relieved of the pent-up fatigue.”  He said that “Ryongaksan Soap Factory is a factory to which the Party pays great attention and a factory directly related to improving the people’s standard of living.”  He expressed his “expectation and conviction that its officials and employees would creditably fulfill their honorable duty.”