Skip to main content

North Korea astounds transport sector with road development plan

North Korea claims that it is establishing a strategic plan that will lift the country's struggling economy into prosperity as early as 2012. According to a missive from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a 10 year economic plan has been unveiled that will see a total of US$100 billion being invested by the nation in 12 strategic sectors.
February 10, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSNorth Korea claims that it is establishing a strategic plan that will lift the country's struggling economy into prosperity as early as 2012. According to a missive from the 5710 Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a 10 year economic plan has been unveiled that will see a total of US$100 billion being invested by the nation in 12 strategic sectors. It will also introduce the State General Bureau for Economic Development to deploy and oversee the plan. A key facet of the plan is for the construction of some 3,000km of roads. Exactly what will be driven on these new roads is as yet unclear. The country's ruling military elite are amongst the small minority of people who are in a position to own personal vehicles. Other than that, North Korea's military is the country's largest user of vehicles. The country also suffers from massive fuel shortages (of all types of fossil fuels) that result in whole areas of its national grid being closed down to conserve power, in addition to hindering vehicle transportation. It would seem logical that any new highways would therefore have to be designed around using bicycles as transportation, given that these do not rely on fuel for motive power.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • CECE Summit – is Europe ready for a digital construction worksite?
    November 20, 2015
    The CECE has voiced his concern over government regulations that could strangle innovation for the digitalisation of construction machinery. China’s imploding economy was another topic at the recent conference in Brussels, reports David Arminas. The CECE has urged the European Parliament and European Commission to enact legislation that promotes rather than hinders the construction sector’s transition to a digitalised way of working. “We need a smart regulatory framework that helps to unlock the full poten
  • Industry leaders to design national model for EV deployment
    March 21, 2012
    A new coalition of executives from blue chip companies in the US transportation and utility industries has come together to design a large-scale electric vehicle (EV) demonstration project that will help create a comprehensive national model for EV deployment.
  • India pushing ahead with infrastructure projects
    July 4, 2012
    Despite the economic downturn, India looks to be pressing ahead with its major infrastructure projects to further boost its incredible growth. Patrick Smith reports India, which like most countries has been affected by the current economic climate, although not to the same extent, is pressing ahead with its ambitious highway construction plans. Each week new projects are completed, started or awarded as the nation seeks to improve its transportation requirements. These are needed to meet the aspirations of
  • Rajasthan Mega Highways boost trade, tourism
    April 12, 2012
    Rajasthan is one of the most favoured tourist destinations of India for both domestic and international traffic on account of its rich array of historical forts, palaces, art and culture. In terms of area, Rajasthan is the country's largest state. Its size and strategic location means that it is traversed by substantial traffic linking the neighbouring states to the north and south. The National Highway (NH) road corridors currently accommodating this traffic are the NH-8, NH-11, NH-12, NH-14 and NH-1