Recently, North Korea’s Hamhung appears to be engaged in stable trade activities, with a particular focus on coal exports to China. Within the city, construction activity has been vigorous, especially the completion of high-rise apartment buildings – each built as a single unit – within just one year. This construction boom seems to be actively led by Donju, the affluent entrepreneurial class.

In addition, expansion of production facilities has been observed at the February 11 Factory, which manufactures Short Range Ballistic missile, SRBMs, and it is likely that Kim Jong Un will visit the site in the future.