Seoul: North Korea is producing kimchi at a new plant "built under the loving care" of leader Kim Jong-Un, who praised the spicy pickle as "one of the world`s five health foods", state media said Friday.
Kim made his remarks while inspecting the sprawling Ryugyong Pickle Factory, built to supply Pyongyang residents with the traditional dish year-round, the Korean Central News Agency said.
The plant is capable of producing 4,200 tonnes a year of the piquant, pungent and fermented vegetable -- a side dish which accompanies every rice meal for Koreans.
Kim said the Ryugyong factory would set the standard for North Korea`s industrial production of kimchi, the news agency said.
He called for the construction of a modern kimchi factory in every province modelled on the Ryugyong plant.
"Kimchi is one of the Korean nation`s most favorite traditional dishes and it is well-known as one of the world`s five health foods", he was quoted as saying.
He urged the factory "to make it more delicious than that produced by individual households and thus make it a favorite dish of the citizens and the best food in the world".
At a rare party congress last month, Kim stressed he would push through with his signature policy of Byungjin -- building up the North`s nuclear arsenal and developing the economy at the same time.
Over the past month, Kim has focused his inspection trips on facilities related to the people`s daily livelihood including a new soap factory, a salt plant, a hospital and a factory producing sports goods.
ckp/mtp