Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator, has lambasted workers at two textile factories for not working hard enough, failing to take care of their buildings and moaning about shortages of money and materials, according to state-run media.

Mr Kim expressed his fury at the failing of workers at two factories in the city of Sinuiju, close to the border with China, the Korean Central News Agency reported on Monday.

At the Sinuiju Textile Mill, Mr Kim declared that the factory and its workers have supported the nation’s light industry sector since it was established in the 1950s - before condemning its present-day workforce for failing to live up to that “proud tradition”.

Instead of complaining about a lack of funds and equipment, the workers should put more effort into modernising their facilities by themselves. He added that the employees needed to increase their productivity.