North Korea is spotlighting a new residential development in its capital as it emerges from a five-year pandemic-induced isolation — with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing a sprawling 10,000-unit apartment complex in Pyongyang’s Hwasong district.
State media released rare images of the Hermit Kingdom site on Saturday, showcasing sleek high-rises and a connecting skybridge, part of a broader initiative to bolster housing in a nation long grappling with economic stagnation and widespread deprivation.
The project, set to open officially on April 15 — coinciding with the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the country’s late founder — marks the third phase of a 2021 plan to construct 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang by 2026, an effort aimed at elevating living conditions in the showcase capital.
The development, described by the Korean Central News Agency as a “beautiful and modern urban quarter” heralding “a new era of prosperity,” includes educational and commercial facilities, with Kim credited for having “energetically led the work of drawing up the construction plan.”
Yet, beneath the polished exterior, challenges persist.
Chronic electricity shortages render elevators inoperable, a reality observed by CNN during past visits, prompting authorities to assign younger residents to upper floors, while reserving lower levels for the elderly.
Outside Pyongyang, where living standards outpace the rest of the country, housing remains scarce — South Korean researchers estimate that only 70% to 80% of households have adequate shelter, with many rural homes lacking basic utilities.
This construction surge, extending to mining regions and rural provinces, relies heavily on the nation’s military, which boasts over a million active-duty personnel under mandatory 10-year conscription terms, and civilian laborers working in grueling conditions.
Pyongyang has seen similar projects in recent years, including the Songhwa Street Main Tower, completed in 2022, and the rapid rise of a 70-story building in Ryomyong New Town in just 74 days — a feat state media dubs “Pyongyang Speed.”
However, concerns about structural integrity linger, underscored by a 2014 apartment collapse blamed on “sloppy building” and “irresponsible supervision,” with no official casualty figures disclosed.
Housing allocations prioritize those loyal to the Kim regime and workers in strategic sectors like science and engineering, reflecting the government’s centralized control.
Amid a faltering economy, soaring commodity costs and persistent food shortages, Kim last month outlined plans to redevelop Pyongyang’s aging neighborhoods, suggesting an expansion beyond the current five-year target.
While the capital has cautiously reopened to limited foreign visitors — Russian tourists briefly entered in 2024 — North Korea remains largely sealed off.