In the capital city Pyongyang, a fully-fledged construction boom has been in place since the summer of 2011. This is part of the “Day of the Sun” on April 15, 2012, in other words, part of the “Pyongyang Redevelopment Project” commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the late Kim Il-sung. The government has declared a “promise” to build 100,000 apartments and give them out to residents free of charge.
The pace of construction was slow until the spring of 2011. This was due to the fact that despite this being a national project with university students, company workers and even workers from various state institutions mobilized, there has been a shortage of construction materials, and the government has been unable to secure enough food to distribute to the workers. But with the beginning of summer, construction has become busier. The backdrop to this is believed to be prodding by Kim Jong-il, General Secretary (at the time), to meet the deadline of the “Day of the Sun” drawing close in April next year.
* Editor's notes on North Korean reporters
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