About the Author
Jeongmin Kim
Jeongmin Kim is a correspondent at NK News, based in Seoul. She previously worked for the CSIS Korea Chair and in the Seoul bureau of Reuters news agency. Follow her on Twitter @jeongminnkim
North Korea's top newspaper on Tuesday hailed the opening of a new phosphatic fertilizer factory in the city of Sunchon as the country's first victory in its "head-on breakthrough battle" against sanctions, warning readers against the temptations of the "reform and opening" model of economic development.
In a political essay (jongron) -- the Rodong Sinmun's first since last month's Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) session -- and special article (ronsol), the newspaper emphasized the importance of self-reliant technology and economy.