Kim Jong-un Visits Pyongyang Construction Site... Third Time Following March and April

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, visited the site of a luxury housing complex under construction in downtown Pyongyang again after about 140 days. This is his third visit following two visits in March and April.

The Workers' Party organ, Rodong Sinmun, reported on the 21st that "Comrade Kim Jong-un conducted on-site guidance for the construction project of the terraced housing complex along the banks of the Potong River," and expressed great satisfaction, stating, "'Despite all shortages and difficulties, a revolutionary transformation has taken place through the patriotic loyalty of the builders, making it unrecognizable compared to about 140 days ago.'

Kim Jong-un praised, "It looks good as the housing complex is formed by preserving the natural undulations," and said, "A model of terraced housing complex has been created by utilizing the mountain slopes as they are and constructing it flawlessly from an architectural aesthetic perspective." He also instructed that the administrative district name of the housing complex should be 'Gyeongrudong,' meaning 'Beautiful Bead Terrace.'

In this report, the order of mention of Jo Yong-won, a close aide to Kim Jong-un and Party Organization Secretary, was pushed back. The newspaper stated, "At the site, comrades Jong Sang-hak, Jo Yong-won, Ri Hi-yong, and other officials of the Party Central Committee, as well as commanders and responsible cadres from units participating in the construction, welcomed him." During the wreath-laying ceremony at the North Korea-China Friendship Tower on the 28th of last month, the order of mention was Jo Yong-won, Ri Il-hwan, Jong Sang-hak, etc. This suggests the possibility of personnel changes.