Seoul, February 17 – North Korea announced on Tuesday that it had completed a major housing project to build 50,000 residential units in Pyongyang ahead of a party congress later this month.
"The construction of 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang, which was carried out as the top priority task of the historic eighth congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, has been successfully completed, marking a historic achievement in the new era of comprehensive national rejuvenation," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The housing construction is a key project of leader Kim Jong-un, unveiled at the 2021 congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, aimed at addressing housing shortages and improving living standards.
Under the project, a total of 40,000 residential units were constructed in Pyongyang's Songsin and Songhwa districts in 2022 and in the Hwasong district from 2023 to 2025, with the remaining 10,000 units recently completed, Yonhap news agency reported.
Kim attended an inauguration ceremony for the completion of the project on Monday with his daughter Ju-ae, according to the KCNA.
At the ceremony, Kim said that North Korea will "unfold a more gigantic construction project," adding that it will "clarify the greater milestone" at the ninth party congress and that people will "witness another exciting five years" of "perfect implementation."
Participants and audience members for the upcoming party meeting arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, the KCNA said.
Officials in Seoul earlier predicted that the North Korean regime may first complete the key construction project before convening the ninth party congress, which the North has said will take place in late February.
The North is expected to outline its key policy priorities for the economy, defense, and diplomacy during the party meeting, with the Pyongyang construction project likely to be widely hailed as a major party accomplishment aimed at rallying public support.
