North Korea plans to further increase the domestic production of natural resources covered by UN Security Council resolutions, according to reports in state media publications in early January.

The articles pertain to coal and iron ore but link the increased resource extraction with the development of the domestic economy and industry, rather than export overseas.

“Last year the coal mines in different parts of the country that are affiliated to our ministry set the highest-ever record in production,” Kim Yong Nam, vice-minister of Coal Industry, said in an article in Naenara on January 3.

“We will promote the economic work aimed