Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
2016-12-15
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s official wire service, reported on December 3 that tens of thousands of new houses had been built this year. The KCNA report stated that six counties/cities in areas damaged by floods in North Hamgyong Province had seen 19,000 new apartments constructed with families then moving in.
In imitation of the city of Kimchaek, hundreds of housing units have been built in Puryong and Hwadae counties, while hundreds more were constructed in Kangryong county, and 200 multistory houses in Paechon county. Eighty (80) apartments were built at Ryongjon Fruit Farm in Pukchon county, 150 at Chawi Cooperative Farm, and 200 at Sujin, Uiju County.
With flood damage in late August, the Party central committee announced on September 10 that the ‘200 day speed battle’s goal’ would be to restore damaged areas, and reconstruction of housing in those areas finished on November 11. People have now begun moving in.
Unlike on Ryomyong Street in Pyongyang — extolled as a personal achievement of Kim Jong Un — construction outside the capital is said to not be progressing properly. Housing construction in Yokjon, Hoeryong, North Hamgyong that began in 2010, as part of a campaign celebrating the personality cult of Kim Jong Suk (the wife of Kim Il Sung), has yet to be completed. There is talk that completion is slated for 2017, but people living there do not believe that will happen.
However, sources indicate that the North Korean authorities have invited individuals to get involved in construction, and thus the project in Hoeryong has resumed. It seems that because construction was part of the campaign to build the personality cult of Kim Jong Suk, there was a fear that stopping the construction would badly influence internal unity.
With the state lacking funds but deeming the continuation of the construction necessary, individuals were eventually allowed to take over. Apparently investors were induced by promises that they would get 50 percent of the proceeds generated from the new housing stock.
Sources say that construction began again in March, and construction materials continue to be brought in. Individual investors have hired workers separately and are managing on-site operations.
