[IPUS-GWIKS 공동 웨비나] North Korea Economic Forum- Assessing North Korea’s ‘20×10 Regional Development Policy’: Political Recalibration and Economic Feasibility
서울대 통일평화연구원과 미국 George Washington University Institute for Korean Studies가 공동으로 웨비나를 진행합니다.
아래 RSVP 링크를 통해 사전신청 하신 분들만 실시간 참여가 가능하시오니 많은 관심 부탁드립니다.
- 주제: Assessing North Korea’s ‘20×10 Regional Development Policy’: Political Recalibration and Economic Feasibility
- 일시: 2026년 4월 15일(수) 10:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. (KST) / 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (EDT)
- 장소: ZOOM Webinar
- 언어: 한∙영 동시통역 제공
- RSVP(사전신청): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-korea-economic-forum-annual-webinar-tickets-1986230077630?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
- 연사자 및 프로그램: https://ipus.snu.ac.kr/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/UPDATED_2026_NKEF_Webinar.pdf
In February 2026, the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea marked what Pyongyang described as a “new era of comprehensive development” in socialist construction. In his report to the Congress, Kim Jong Un declared that the past five years had opened a transformative phase in which all regions, sectors, and institutions of the state would advance simultaneously. At the center of this vision stands the “Regional Development 20×10 Policy,” which mandates the construction of local industrial factories, hospitals, and leisure facilities in 20 cities and counties every year, alongside accelerated rural modernization.
Framed as a strategic shift toward balanced national growth, the policy is presented domestically as proof of the regime’s commitment to improving living standards, strengthening Cabinet-centered economic management, and reinforcing the Party’s leadership at the county level. At the same time, the Congress reaffirmed the primacy of self-reliance, technological modernization, and an expanded national defense posture, underscoring the interconnection between economic development, political control, and security strategy.
This event brings together leading experts from the United States and Korea in two paired dialogue panels. By examining both the political logic and economic feasibility of the 20×10 initiative, the discussion will assess whether North Korea’s regional development drive represents structural transformation, intensified mobilization, or a recalibration of state authority in an era defined by sanctions, strategic rivalry, and shifting inter-Korean relations.
