Kim slams local North Koreans for unfinished power plant

In this undated photo provided on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, inspects the construction site of a hydroelectric power plant in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea. State media say that Kim has harshly reprimanded local officials over a delayed construction project. The slogan in the background reads: “March toward the final victory!” Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has blasted local officials over a delayed construction project, state media reported Tuesday, his second such rebuke over the economy in recent weeks.

It’s unusual for state media to carry dispatches showing Kim’s criticism of officials. Experts say Kim may be struggling to improve his country’s moribund economy and intends to pass the responsibility for its economic woes on to officials before possibly launching new economic policies.

The latest fury, as Kim negotiates with the United States over abandoning his nuclear weapons programs, came during a visit to the power plant’s construction site in the northeast. After officials briefed him about the project and its delays, he was “speechless” and “extremely enraged,” the Korean Central News Agency reported.

The plan originally was ordered by Kim’s late grandfather, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, 30 years ago.

“Kim pointed out that the cabinet has specified the project as a target project that should be accelerated,” the KCNA report said.

Earlier this month, during visits to two textile factories, Kim also criticized officials for poor building maintenance, a failure to modernize production lines, lack of expertise and other problems.

Since taking power when his dictator father Kim Jong Il died in late 2011, Kim, 34, has promised to boost living standards and sought to project an image of youth and modernity while pushing hard to build up North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

Under his rule, the North’s economy has gradually improved as some capitalist elements such as outdoor markets have been allowed. U.N. sanctions that were toughened after nuclear and missile tests could take a huge economic toll if they continue, foreign experts say.

After entering disarmament talks with the United States earlier this year, Kim met in June with President Donald Trump and agreed to commit to “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” But there has been no major progress in the North’s disarmament.

U.S. and South Korean officials say they are ready to help North Korea revive its economy if it gives up its nuclear program.  /muf