April 26, 2025Apr 26, 2025
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Two totally different systems seen through housing problems

Date: 15/03/2025 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

Housing problems are to provide people with an elementary and essential condition, but they offer a striking contrast between the social systems.

Unattainable dream

At the end of December last year, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that the homeless people including those who temporarily resided in protective facilities numbered over 770 000.

According to data recently published in the country, including the report on the present national housing situation in 2024 of Harvard University, the house prices and house rent have jumped by 29 percent and 26 percent respectively since 2020.

With the cost of living and inflation continuously going up, it has become a difficult problem for American families to collect enough money to pay the price or rent for houses. The skyrocketing house price is a problem. But more serious is the housing shortage. At present the US is reportedly short of houses for 3.9 million families.

In Europe about 1.2 million people are lodging on the streets.

The number of people wandering the streets has steadily been increasing since 2008 in Europe and it is commonplace for wanderers to live in empty buildings or public places and beg for food.

The report of a women’s human rights delegation of the French Senate in October last year said that about 3 000 women and the equal number of children stay outdoors every night.

It noted that in a hospital many homeless women extended the days of hospital treatment after childbirth. A woman stayed there for 90 days and another woman was hospitalized in the paediatrics department with her baby, it added.

For many people in the US and Europe, “buying a house" is just a dream.

People’s dream and ideal come true

In the DPRK, in which the construction of dwelling houses for providing the people with stable and civilized living conditions is an undertaking to realize the cherished desire of the Workers' Party of Korea, projects have been pushed ahead in a planned manner to properly solve the housing problem of the people across the country in the near future.

In recent years, many houses have been built in Pyongyang every year, including those on newly built Songhwa, Hwasong and Rimhung streets.

"I can hardly believe that such a wonderful new house has been provided to us, worker couple. Whenever we heard the news that the fellow workers of my husband who works at the Pyongyang Thermal Power Station had received new houses, we were envious of them wondering when we would get such a blessing. But today our dream has become a reality and still I feel as if I am dreaming,” said Ro Kum Nyo living in neighbourhood unit No. 9, Hwawon-dong No. 1 of Hwasong District.

As the construction of rural houses has dynamically been stepped up in the provinces as well as in the capital city, happy events of moving into new houses have taken place in succession in different parts of the country.

Farmhouses for more than 80 700 families were built in over 1 500 rural villages in the past three years. Those for 20 000-odd families are now under construction. If the houses to be built this year are put together, another tens of thousands of farmers will reportedly settle in the new houses.

The houses, which the state builds by taking full responsibility and making enormous investment while regarding the housing projects as the most important undertaking, are provided to the workers, farmers and all other working people free of charge.

This is entirely attributable to the people-first politics of the Workers' Party of Korea which shapes the future by investing all the wealth of the country in the people's happiness.

The large-scale housing construction projects undertaken by the Party and state are not aimed at gaining any economic profits, but constitute a noble undertaking to make the wealth of the state and the results of the creative labour of the working masses actually become their wellbeing.

Thanks to the noble outlook of the WPK on the people that it must pick the star in the sky if the people want it, the dream and ideal of the people are becoming a reality in the DPRK.

More From Pyongyang Times

Birthday spread sent to centenarian

Birthday spread sent to centenarian

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Jon Won Je, a woman centenarian living in neighbourhood unit No. 69 of

April 24, 2025

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Jon Won Je, a woman centenarian living in neighbourhood unit No. 69 of

Ushering in great heyday of construction

Ushering in great heyday of construction

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea who ushered in a great golden age of construction to provide the

April 24, 2025

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea who ushered in a great golden age of construction to provide the

Russian youth delegation members laud DPRK as invincible country

Russian youth delegation members laud DPRK as invincible country

The prestige of the DPRK where all the people are rallied close around the Workers' Party of Korea and achieve the overall

April 23, 2025

The prestige of the DPRK where all the people are rallied close around the Workers' Party of Korea and achieve the overall

DPRK players return home

DPRK players return home

DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2025 Konstantin Korotkov International Boxing Tournament held in Khabarovsk,

April 23, 2025

DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2025 Konstantin Korotkov International Boxing Tournament held in Khabarovsk,

National People's Games close

National People's Games close

The 14th National People's Games closed with due ceremony at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on April 21. The April 25 Sports Team came

April 23, 2025

The 14th National People's Games closed with due ceremony at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on April 21. The April 25 Sports Team came

Singye Wheat Processing Factory inaugurated

Singye Wheat Processing Factory inaugurated

The Singye Wheat Processing Factory was successfully built in North Hwanghae Province. The modern factory equipped with grading,

April 23, 2025

The Singye Wheat Processing Factory was successfully built in North Hwanghae Province. The modern factory equipped with grading,

Russia censures Japan for aggravating military tension

Russia censures Japan for aggravating military tension

The Russian Foreign Ministry on April 17 made public a press release to condemn Japan for aggravating military tension. Russia

April 22, 2025

The Russian Foreign Ministry on April 17 made public a press release to condemn Japan for aggravating military tension. Russia

DPRK and Russian young people hold joint friendship gathering

DPRK and Russian young people hold joint friendship gathering

A joint friendship gathering of the DPRK and Russian young people took place at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on April 20.

April 22, 2025

A joint friendship gathering of the DPRK and Russian young people took place at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on April 20.

Sweet and biscuit sculpture show features artistic skills

Sweet and biscuit sculpture show features artistic skills

The Fifth Sweet and Biscuit Sculpture Show was recently held at the Chongnyu Restaurant, a famous public catering base in

April 21, 2025

The Fifth Sweet and Biscuit Sculpture Show was recently held at the Chongnyu Restaurant, a famous public catering base in

Profound reverence reflected on calligraphy and paintings

Profound reverence reflected on calligraphy and paintings

The national calligraphy festival and fine art exhibition for aged artists opened at the Pyongyang International House of Culture

April 21, 2025

The national calligraphy festival and fine art exhibition for aged artists opened at the Pyongyang International House of Culture

China brands US as hacking empire

China brands US as hacking empire

A spokesman for the Chinese defense ministry in a news conference on April 16 branded the US as an empire of hacking. He said that

April 21, 2025

A spokesman for the Chinese defense ministry in a news conference on April 16 branded the US as an empire of hacking. He said that

Delegation of United Russia Youth Guards visits various places

Delegation of United Russia Youth Guards visits various places

The delegation of the United Russia Youth Guards led by Anton Zemidov, chairman of its Coordinating Council, visited the Youth

April 21, 2025

The delegation of the United Russia Youth Guards led by Anton Zemidov, chairman of its Coordinating Council, visited the Youth

DPRK embassy in Beijing hosts reception

DPRK embassy in Beijing hosts reception

The DPRK embassy in Beijing hosted a reception on April 14 on the occasion of the 113th birth anniversary of President Kim Il

April 21, 2025

The DPRK embassy in Beijing hosted a reception on April 14 on the occasion of the 113th birth anniversary of President Kim Il

US measure to ease arms export regulations a step to expand wars

US measure to ease arms export regulations a step to expand wars

Shortly ago, the present US administration took a measure to ease the "regulations" that had been obstacles to the export of

April 21, 2025

Shortly ago, the present US administration took a measure to ease the "regulations" that had been obstacles to the export of

Egyptian FM decries Israeli air raid

Egyptian FM decries Israeli air raid

The Egyptian foreign ministry issued a statement on April 13 to denounce Israel’s unethical air raids on the Gaza Strip. The

April 20, 2025

The Egyptian foreign ministry issued a statement on April 13 to denounce Israel’s unethical air raids on the Gaza Strip. The

Venezuelan defence minister condemns US’ human rights violation

Venezuelan defence minister condemns US’ human rights violation

The Venezuelan minister of defence denounced the US’ human rights abuses at an event marking the founding of the Bolivarian militi

April 20, 2025

The Venezuelan minister of defence denounced the US’ human rights abuses at an event marking the founding of the Bolivarian militi

Russia, Egypt hold joint naval exercise

Russia, Egypt hold joint naval exercise

Russia and Egypt recently waged a joint naval exercise in the eastern waters of the Mediterranean. It involved frigates, small

April 20, 2025

Russia and Egypt recently waged a joint naval exercise in the eastern waters of the Mediterranean. It involved frigates, small

Socialism is ideal and desire of mankind

Socialism is ideal and desire of mankind

It has been 33 years since the historic Pyongyang Declaration “Let Us Defend and Advance the Cause of Socialism” was made

April 20, 2025

It has been 33 years since the historic Pyongyang Declaration “Let Us Defend and Advance the Cause of Socialism” was made

More Articles