In factory after factory, Kim tries to grow N. Korea economy

WONSAN, North Korea: For North Korean factory managers, a visit by leader Kim Jong Un is the highest of honors and possibly the most stressful event imaginable.
The chief engineer at the Songdowon General Foodstuffs Factory had looked forward to the visit for nearly a decade. His factory makes baked goods and soft drinks sold around the country.
Kwon Yong Chol said Kim’s visit was the biggest thing that could have happened to the factory’s workers. “He ate our instant noodles. He said they were delicious.”
Not all managers have been so fortunate.
Kim has embarked on dozens of such visits after promising to turn his attention from weapons development to the economy. Reflecting the gravity of his current mission, Kim has shown little patience for cadres who come up short.