[1] Coal, iron ore, limestone, and magnesite deposits are larger than other mineral commodities.
Mining joint ventures have occurred with other countries include China, Canada, Egypt, and South Korea.
All these sectors are owned by the central government and it is also reported that the mineral industry supports the country's military budget.
[3][8] The mining area was damaged in the 2020 Pacific typhoon season, and its redevelopment was a priority for the North Korean government.
To process the low-grade concentrate of the Sangnong Mine, the Dongdae Custom Mill Plant (located in Tanchon city) has been established.
[3] The DPRK is estimated to hold a total amount of 2.1 million metric tonnes of copper metal.
However, KOMID was blacklisted by the United Nations in 2009 subsequent to North Korea's April 5 rocket launch.
[13] The ore is found a strike strip of 1200 m and is operated through nine blocks and extraction is by open pit method.
North Korean officials asked International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to leave the country in 2009, who had not inspected the mine since 1992.
This means North Korea is not bound by the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Safeguards Agreement.
Satellite photos revealed changed vegetation in 2021, causing a team at Stanford University to believe North Korea had expanded the mine since 2009.
It is believed the collapses occurred due to a lack of structural support in new mined-out areas.
[3] In addition to its metal resources, North Korea is also abundant in coal and limestone (with 100 billion metric tonnes), valued at some US$9.7 trillion.
It has a capacity of 1 million tons per year and the coal mined is sent by trucks to run the Chongjin Thermal Power Plant and the Chollima Steel Complex.
[22] In 2013, North Korea surpassed Vietnam to become the global top exporter of anthracite, generating $1.4 billion in revenue for the DPRK (10% of the country's GDP).