North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has participated in inspecting the completion of work on a new luxury neighborhood in the country's capital, Pyongyang, A2 CNN reports.
Photos released by state news agency KCNA show the new Hwasong neighborhood, a 10,000-apartment project that includes multiple skyscrapers along a wide boulevard. The project is part of a five-year plan launched in 2021, with the aim of building 50,000 new apartments in Pyongyang.
Although modern buildings give an image of development, life in North Korea's high-rise buildings is not always easy. Frequent power outages often cause elevators to malfunction, making life difficult for residents on the upper floors. For this reason, young people are usually placed on the highest floors, while the elderly on the lower floors.
Across the country, housing shortages remain a major challenge. A 2021 study found that North Korea has housing for only 70-80% of households. Many areas outside Pyongyang suffer from a lack of drinking water, sanitation, and electricity.
Despite the challenges, the Hwasong neighborhood also includes educational, commercial and service facilities. The project has been inspected by leader Kim Jong Un himself, who is said to have played a key role in its design and construction. The official opening is scheduled for April 15, commemorating the birthday of Kim Il Sung.
However, experts have raised concerns about the quality of construction, given the tragic collapse of a building in Pyongyang in 2014. Meanwhile, Kim has also promised other construction projects to further modernize the capital and other parts of the country. (A2 Televizion)
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