The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea worked out a yearly plan for building 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year and decided on basically solving the housing problem in the capital city.

In the period of the five-year plan, the project for building 50 000 flats in the capital city was pushed forward dynamically, far beyond the original plan, thus completely changing the appearance of the city.

Since 2021, 10 000 flats have been built and inaugurated every year without fail. In addition, new modern streets and residential quarters including the Pothong Riverside Terraced Houses District and the dwelling district in the Taephyong area and Jonwi and Saeppyol streets sprang up in the meantime.

What is remarkable is that all of them are modern and original and oriented to constantly exploring and creating a new and more wonderful standard.

Long-desired work of WPK pushed as most important task

The whole world was surprised when the decision on the construction of 50 000 flats was announced.

The number 50 000 was simply staggering, and it was not an easy decision to build 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year in view of the country’s conditions at that time.

A global health crisis was at its height and the enemies’ moves against the DPRK were getting ever more pronounced, and extreme weather conditions persisted, adding to the worst-ever situation.

Enormous challenges and obstacles arose in all directions making it difficult to predict what would happen even on the following day, and the goals for implementing the decisions of the Party Congress were immense and ambitious.

But the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un said that in order to decisively solve the housing problem of Pyongyang citizens, it was necessary to build a large number of flats by concentrating nationwide efforts. Therefore, the Party planned to build 50 000 modern flats in Pyongyang by 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the WPK, he said, adding that whether in construction or in production, the goal should be set and carried out at all points on the principle of giving top priority to the interests and convenience of the people.

When the construction of Hwasong Street was nearing completion, he pictured the people who would live in those excellent flats full of happiness and joy and earnestly said that we should build 50 000 flats in Pyongyang without fail during the five-year plan and thus solve the housing problem in the capital city, adding that it was his desire.

Therefore, the construction of 50 000 flats in the capital city was pushed forward vigorously as scheduled.

Great guidance brings transformation of capital

The respected General Secretary’s extraordinary leadership practice and devotion to the people brought about a new era of radical change in the capital city.

All the new streets and residential quarters were built splendidly thanks to the energetic guidance of the General Secretary who even guided formation plans at his office room in the Party Central Committee at midnight and attended all ground-breaking ceremonies to give matchless strength and courage to the builders so as to provide the people with new, wonderful streets which would be flawless even after 50 or 100 years.

The fact that documents related to the construction of dwelling houses in the Hwasong area had always been on the table in his office where he led to victory the intensive military operations for frustrating the vicious moves of the hostile forces and the emergency anti-epidemic campaign for defending the lives and security of the people clearly shows how importantly the housing construction in the capital city was kept in his mind.

The third-stage construction in the Hwasong area was really an arduous struggle of creation for building a distinctive residential quarter with a large architectural area and public and service buildings including education, public health, commercial and public service facilities while simultaneously pushing the construction of regional-industry factories in 20 cities and counties at a time when extremely severe trials cropped up successively to impede the advance of the country.

However, thanks to the energetic guidance of the General Secretary who visited the construction site over and over to solve all problems arising in the project saying that it was the nature and duty of the Party and the government to unconditionally keep the promise made with the people, however harsh trials they may face, the third-stage 10 000 flats in the Hwasong area rose up distinctively as another massive residential area, providing a decisive guarantee for accomplishing the project for building 50 000 flats in Pyongyang.

During his recent field inspection of the fourth-stage construction of dwelling houses in the Hwasong area, he expressed his great belief that the builders of the capital city would successfully complete the new streets for the people as monumental edifices of the times with their redoubled wisdom, enthusiasm and fighting spirit, cherishing the unusual honour and pride of being creators and pioneers leading a worthwhile life while writing a new chapter of history of rejuvenation and development of the country.

Through the construction of the capital, which has been vigorously and persistently promoted during the term of the Eighth Party Central Committee, the functions and appearance of the capital city are undergoing a signal change and the country has formulated a theory, set a model example and achieved good results in the combination of urban formation and architectural elements.