Kim Jong-un visits key economic sites for his first public appearances since Hanoi summit

北김정은, 하노이회담 결렬 후 첫 행보로 '경제시찰'... 이번엔 대성백화점 방문

In the weeks following the Hanoi summit,.... North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had not made any public appearances.
But since late last week..., he's been visiting some of key economic sites in the country,... getting briefed about construction work... and complimenting the workers on their efforts.
Oh Jung-hee tells us more.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un making a series of visits to economic sites every day... after a month of laying low since the Hanoi summit.
Pyeongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Monday... that Kim visited the Taesong Department Store that's about to open.
The images released show a store packed full of food, shoes, and clothing.
The modern and sleek interior also grabs the attention -- the store's delicate lighting, English signs, and mannequins in different poses.
The report said Kim expressed his satisfaction that it's now possible to provide Pyeongyang residents with a variety of items for daily and cultural use.
The North Korean leader's visit to the department store follows his trips to Samjiyon County, the Onchon tourist area, and the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area last week, all currently under construction.
They are all key to his stated goal of achieving national prosperity and improving the well-being of the North Korean people.
Kim Jong-un's visits to these spots are his first public appearances since his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in February.
This implies he's finished contemplating strategies for the nuclear negotiations... that hit another snag at the Hanoi summit.
How the North will move forward from here... could be unveiled at the first meeting of the North's newly-formed Supreme People's Assembly later this week.
But it seems the North won't lean towards breaking its moratorium on nuclear or missile testing.
Kim's economy-focused visits show the regime is unlikely to break away from its policy plan of abandoning nuclear development and pursuing economic development.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.