Tuesday, February 17, 2026-North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has officially celebrated the completion of a major housing project in Pyongyang as the country prepares for its Ninth Party Congress, a pivotal political event expected later this month. State media reported that the construction of 50,000 housing units in the capital’s Hwasong District — a flagship initiative of the ruling Workers’ Party — has reached its conclusion, with the final phase of 10,000 new homes formally inaugurated. Kim presided over the ceremony, highlighting the achievement as a sign of progress under his leadership and a cornerstone of the nation’s development goals.
At the ceremony, Kim was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, whose visible presence once again sparked discussion among analysts about her possible future role in the country’s leadership. State television footage also showed them engaging with residents and touring local facilities in the new district, underscoring the regime’s effort to portray the project as directly benefiting ordinary citizens. Officials and participants for the upcoming party congress have begun arriving in Pyongyang, signaling that the major political gathering is imminent.
The housing project — launched under the previous party congress and prioritized as a key national task — serves multiple strategic aims for the regime. It not only addresses longstanding infrastructure needs in the capital but also acts as a symbolic showcase of Kim’s commitment to improvement and stability ahead of the congress, where future policy directions, economic plans, and potential leadership shifts are expected to be outlined. In this context, the completion of the Pyongyang housing drive reinforces Kim’s narrative of achievement and control as North Korea enters a consequential period of internal political activity.
0 Comments