Inside the DPRK: New technology, fresh designs give new life to shoe factory

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01:50

It's a rare look inside the DPRK, and in this case, inside a factory. As CGTN Frances Kuo reports, this facility is now taking a fresh approach to an age-old industry.

It's a modest-looking building on the outside. But what's going on inside -- considered the model of the DPRK's footwear industry. The RYUWON footwear factory was built in 1988. But it lagged behind for several years -- using equipment from abroad that could only produce old-fashioned shoes.

But in the past year, it's stepped up its game - with an injection of new technology.

IN UIUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER RYUWON FOOTWEAR FACTORY "Its power consumption is less than half of the previous production line, and the operation is automatic. We can produce 2,000 pairs of shoes every day using this production line, and the yearly output of shoes can reach one million pairs."

Providing power to the facility is this greener system - of more than 12-hundred solar panels installed on the factory's roof.

IN UIUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER RYUWON FOOTWEAR FACTORY "Because the factory is powered by solar energy, it can keep producing. So the factory can overachieve the production target of economic plan over a longer period of time."

And gone are the tired shoe prototypes of the past. The factory's design department is churning out dozens of new styles every week.

SIM EUN SHIN DESIGNER "I use samples to learn about the world fashion trends. I combine it with the preference of local people to form a design with Korean characteristics."

Some of the shoes are sold to kindergarten and elementary school children at a discounted price. Others are sold in stores. The hope is that DPRK citizens won't be the shoes' only fans -- but that the wider world will count among its customers. Frances Kuo, CGTN.