Kim Jong-un 'Boiling' Over Delays in Pyongyang General Hospital Construction

Supply Instability of Construction Materials Amid COVID-19 and North Korea Sanctions

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted an on-site inspection of the Pyongyang General Hospital construction site, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 20th.
Kim Jong Un criticized the construction union executive, stating that "there has been serious deviation in policy regarding equipment and material supply projects" and that "various support projects are rather imposing burdens on the people," according to KCNA.
The on-site inspection was attended by Party Vice Chairmen Pak Pong Ju and Pak Tae Song, as well as Premier Kim Jae Ryong.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, visited the construction site of the Pyongyang General Hospital, publicly pointed out issues such as material supply, and replaced the construction leadership. It appears that international sanctions against North Korea and border closures due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are hindering the hospital's construction.

On the 20th, North Korea's state media, the Korean Central News Agency, reported that "Comrade Kim Jong-un provided on-site guidance at the Pyongyang General Hospital construction site," and criticized that "the construction task force (TF) has yet to properly establish the construction budget and is recklessly conducting economic organizational work."

Chairman Kim criticized, "Contrary to the original intention of initiating and planning the construction operation of the general hospital for our people, there has been serious deviation in policy regarding equipment and material support." He then instructed, "The relevant departments of the Party Central Committee should fully understand the status of the construction task force's work at the Pyongyang General Hospital and replace all those responsible."

North Korea has been pushing for the completion of the Pyongyang General Hospital by October 10, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Party. Earlier, at the groundbreaking ceremony in March, Chairman Kim emphasized that the construction of the Pyongyang General Hospital is "a major matter to which the nation must devote its utmost efforts." This was interpreted as an intention to highlight the supreme leader's 'benevolent spirit' prioritizing the health and welfare of the people and alleviating public anxiety caused by periodic outbreaks of infectious diseases.

However, accumulated international sanctions, the suspension of North Korea-China trade due to COVID-19, and foreign currency shortages have severely disrupted the supply of equipment and materials. In response, it is reported that North Korea has effectively extracted materials from nationwide institutions, organizations, and residents. This process appears to have increased public dissatisfaction.

Professor Im Eul-chul of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University stated, "Chairman Kim's public reprimand and personnel changes are judged to reflect the increasingly worsening public sentiment," adding, "It reflects the recognition that the grievances of residents, including Pyongyang citizens who are already struggling due to reduced income caused by the COVID-19 situation and are suffering from various manpower and material mobilizations, can no longer be ignored."

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "It reveals that material supply is not smooth due to international sanctions and COVID-19," and added, "It shows that the construction of the Pyongyang General Hospital is not proceeding smoothly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.