Kim Jong Un Plots Continued Renewal of Pyongyang

Kim Jong Un’s ambitious plan to build 50,000 new apartments in Pyongyang over a five-year period is entering its final year and appears on track for accomplishing this goal.[1]

On February 16, Kim attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth and final stage of the project that has to-date created two entirely new neighborhoods in Pyongyang and redeveloped a third. The final stage of the project will further expand one of those new neighborhoods, the Hwasong District, with an additional 10,000 apartments.

Beyond the housing push, Kim also announced an ambitious plan to develop eastern Pyongyang and redevelop three existing districts near the city’s center.

Pyongyang’s modernization runs parallel to the rural development initiative and “project for regional development,” two projects that have emphasized the need to improve rural communities. Kim’s latest announcement indicates that the intense push for rural development is not coming at the expense of Pyongyang’s continued modernization.

The Final Push in Hwasong

The final phase of the five-year Pyongyang housing construction project includes building up the southern end of the Hwasong District, according to renders of the project shown in state media images.

The Hwasong District, in northwest Pyongyang, was farmland before development work began in 2022. It currently consists of multiple high-rise apartment buildings, shops and schools clustered around two major roads. The first phase built up along Hwasong Street and the second phase, along Rimhung Street.

This third phase appears to continue along Rimhung Street and possibly expand beyond Hwasong District’s boundary.

The groundbreaking took place in an area that is currently part of the neighboring Taesong District, making it possible the boundary of Hwasong will be redrawn to include this area.

Eastward Development

In his speech at the groundbreaking, Kim noted that after the Hwasong development is done, “We plan to implement with serious intent the policy of extending streets of Pyongyang towards Kangdong as the second stage.”

Kangdong is a rural district of Pyongyang on the eastern edge of the city that is connected via the four-lane Pyongyang-to-Kangdong Road. Before reaching Kangdong, it runs through Samsok District. Kim appears to have plans for that area too.

“As major science research institutes, technology universities, and officers' schools will be built in Taesong District, [we] wish to build tens of thousands of modern houses in the section between the Hwasong area and Samsok District's Songmun-dong,” he said

State media did not offer any detailed plans of the development, but it could encompass a sizable area, including large stretches of agricultural land.

The goal of this additional project would be to “create another wonderful scientific, cultural and dwelling area in Pyongyang,” said Kim.

Central Pyongyang

While large parts of Pyongyang have been redeveloped since Kim came to power in late 2011, there are still many neighborhoods of decades-old, single-story houses.

“We will transform such culturally backward metropolitan areas and suburbs … thereby eliminating and renovating all the elements unbecoming of the appearance of the capital city in its overall formation,” Kim said.

He named three districts: Tungme-dong in Songyo District, Wolhyang-dong in Moranbong District and Hadang-dong in Hyongjesan District.

Tungme-dong is an area in southeast Pyongyang. It is near the Songsin and Songhwa developments that were part of the 50,000 apartments plan in 2022. The neighborhood is made up of mostly single-story houses and includes some factories along its southern edge, including the Pyongyang Steel Factory.

Wolhyang-dong is immediately northwest of the Arch of Triumph roundabout and already contains a number of high-rise structures, although many are at least 20 years old. Curiously, just north of Wolhyang is Jinhung-dong, a largely residential district of single-story houses that appears to be a less developed area of the city, but hasn’t been mentioned as part of the plan.

Hadang-dong is in northwest Pyongyang and includes a large area of single-story housing and an undeveloped area alongside a river. It is also home to the Pyongyang University of Transport and the Railway Research Institute.

It is unclear when these newly announced projects will begin. North Korea’s current five-year plan, which included the 50,000 apartment project for Pyongyang, is scheduled to end this year. Commercial satellite imagery does not show any current preparations in the three districts mentioned by Kim, so his announcement could be a preview of his next five-year plan for the capital.

1. [1]

   “Let Us Renovate Our Capital City Splendidly Once Again by Building 50 000 Flats,” Rodong Sinmun, March 24, 2021.