Kim Jong-un Attends Pyongyang Housing Groundbreaking Ceremony: "A Major Political Project in the First Year of the Five-Year Plan"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for residential housing in Pyongyang, describing it as a significant political project in the first year of the five-year national economic development plan and expressing his determination to "push it forward unconditionally."

The Workers' Party organ newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on the 24th that Kim attended the groundbreaking ceremony held on the 23rd in the Songhwa district of Pyongyang and made these remarks.

North Korea established a five-year national economic development plan at the 8th Party Congress, which includes constructing a total of 50,000 residential units in Pyongyang by 2025, with 10,000 units built annually.

Kim stated, "The construction of 50,000 residential units in Pyongyang is a long-cherished project that our Party has earnestly prepared to provide the capital city's citizens with more stable and civilized living conditions," adding, "Since this is a significant political project in the first year to thoroughly implement the Party Congress's decision without wavering, we have decided to push it forward unconditionally."

The military will also be mobilized for the Pyongyang housing construction. Kim encouraged, "The construction site for the 50,000 residential units symbolizes a new high tide and a period of great change in socialist construction," and said, "The People's Army, which the Party Central Committee trusts the most, must fully demonstrate its combative spirit in the construction struggle as well."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim's attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony marks his first field visit this year. While he has been managing domestic affairs by presiding over plenary meetings and regional cadre meetings, his visit to the site is interpreted as an effort to highlight the 'Pyongyang residential housing construction,' which has a housing welfare aspect within the five-year national economic development plan.

Professor Im Eul-chul of the Far East Institute at Kyungnam University commented, "The large-scale residential housing construction will bring about overall economic stimulus and revitalization effects, driving production, investment, and consumption across society," but he also assessed that "there is a high possibility of misuse of scarce internal resources." He pointed out that it could widen the relative gap between Pyongyang and the provinces, potentially contradicting the goal of 'balanced regional development.'

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