North Korea has unveiled a major new residential development in its capital, Pyongyang, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to modernize its urban landscape following five years of pandemic isolation.
State media released images of the Hwasong district, a newly completed neighborhood featuring around 10,000 apartments spread across towering residential skyscrapers and connected by expansive boulevards. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the development ahead of its official inauguration on April 15, coinciding with the birthday of North Korea’s founder and Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung.
The project forms part of an ambitious plan announced in 2021 to construct 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang over five years, aiming to enhance the quality of life in the capital compared to the rest of the impoverished nation. The Hwasong district, described by state media as a “beautiful and modern urban quarter,” includes educational, commercial, and service facilities, with Kim reportedly deeply involved in the design and planning processes.
However, despite the shiny new exteriors, high-rise living in Pyongyang comes with significant challenges. Regular power outages often render elevators inoperable, making higher floors difficult to access. Younger residents typically receive higher apartments, while older citizens are relocated to lower floors to minimize physical difficulties, according to multiple first-hand observations.
North Korea continues to face severe housing shortages nationwide, exacerbated by economic hardships, rising commodity prices, and persistent food insecurity. A study from South Korea’s Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology estimated in 2021 that housing availability in North Korea meets only 70%-80% of demand, with many homes outside Pyongyang suffering from inadequate electricity, sanitation, and clean water supplies.
Despite these widespread challenges, Pyongyang has continued expanding housing construction, notably with recent projects at Mirae Scientists Street and Songhwa Street, the latter hosting the country’s second-tallest building, the Songhwa Street Main Tower, completed in 2022. Housing projects have also extended into mining communities and rural regions, often relying on forced labor from soldiers and civilians working under harsh conditions with minimal compensation.
Housing assignments are centrally controlled by the government, favoring citizens perceived as most loyal to the ruling Kim family and workers in key industries, such as science and engineering.
While state media regularly praises rapid construction—dubbed “Pyongyang Speed”—experts have raised concerns about building quality and safety. In 2014, a multi-story apartment building collapsed in Pyongyang, reportedly due to poor construction standards and negligent oversight, although no official casualty numbers were disclosed.
